Functional unit capable of executing approximations of functions

摘要

A semiconductor chip is described having a functional unit that can execute a first instruction and execute a second instruction. The first instruction is an instruction that multiplies two operands. The second instruction is an instruction that approximates a function according to C0+C1X2+C2X22. The functional unit has a multiplier circuit. The multiplier circuit has: i) a first input to receive bits of a first operand of the first instruction and receive bits of a C1 term of the second instruction; ii) a second input to receive bits of a second operand of the first instruction and receive bits of a X2 term of the second instruction.

主权项

1. A semiconductor chip comprising:
a decode unit to decode a first instruction, the first instruction being an instruction to approximate a function with a calculation C0+C1X2+C2X22; and a functional unit to perform the decoded first instruction, wherein the functional unit is to receive an operand X1, an operand X2 and an operand X22, wherein the operand X22 is to be calculated in a pipeline stage that is prior to an execution pipeline stage, and wherein the functional unit is to store a result of the calculation C0+C1X2+C2X22, in which C0, C1, and C2 are coefficients that the semiconductor chip is to determine from the operand X1.