Redundancy method and apparatus for shader column repair

摘要

A method and apparatus for shader data repair utilizing a Redundant Shader Switch (RSS). The RSS consists of an input and output section whereby when a defective shader pipe is detected, the RSS multiplexes shader pipe data destined to the defective shader pipe to a redundant shader pipe array for processing. Once processed, the shader pipe data is multiplexed back to the RSS where the processed shader pipe data is directed to the corresponding output column of the RSS. The RSS contains delay pipes used to re-align and synchronize the repaired shader pipe data with output export data.

主权项

1. A system, comprising:
a shader pipe array configured to perform rendering calculations on input data; a sequencer configured to identify defective shader pipes within the shader pipe array and to control a flow of data through the shader pipe array; a redundant shader pipe array configured to process shader pipe data destined to a defective shader pipe, wherein:
the redundant shader pipe array further comprises one or more vertical redundant shader pipe columns, wherein each vertical redundant shader pipe column comprises two or more redundant shader pipe blocks, where there is a single redundant shader pipe block per row that is configured to process one defective shader pipe per row,in response to the sequencer identifying a defective shader pipe, a control register is configured to map data for the defective shader pipe to the redundant shader pipe array for processing, andin response to the sequencer identifying the defective shader pipe in the shader pipe array, a redundant shader switch is configured to transfer data to the redundant shader pipe array.