Means of control for reconfigurable computers

摘要

A data flow controller for reconfigurable computers. The novel data flow controller includes a first circuit for selecting one of a plurality of operating conditions and a second circuit for determining if the selected condition is met and outputting a control signal accordingly. In an illustrative embodiment, the operating conditions include: when all enabled data available signals are asserted and all enabled space available signals are asserted; when any enabled data available signal is asserted and all enabled space available signals are asserted; when all enabled data available signals are asserted and any enabled space available signal is asserted; and when any enabled data available signal is asserted and any enabled space available signal is asserted. By allowing a configurable element to operate under different possible conditions, data flow signals can also then be used to control what operation the element performs, in addition to controlling when.

主权项

1. A configurable element for a reconfigurable computer configured in a distributed control, data flow architecture, the configurable element comprising:
an operational element configured to perform a plurality of different logical operations on data; a finite state machine adapted to configure the operational element to perform a selected logical operation of the plurality of different logical operations and output a plurality of first control signals, in accordance with an input/output condition; a data flow controller comprising:
first means for selecting one of a plurality of input/output conditions in accordance with the plurality of first control signals from the finite state machine, the input/output conditions indicating availability of input data to the operational element and availability of spaces for receiving output data from the operational element;second means for determining if the selected input/output condition is satisfied and for outputting a second control signal to the finite state machine for controlling the operational element to perform said selected logical operation on the data, when the selected input/output condition is satisfied;a first circuit for determining if all selected input signals are asserted;a second circuit for determining if any selected input signal is asserted;a first switch for receiving one or more of the first control signals and selecting the first circuit or the second circuit based on said received first control signals;a third circuit for determining if all selected output conditions are asserted;a fourth circuit for determining if any selected output condition is asserted;a second switch for receiving one or more of the first control signals and selecting the third circuit or the fourth circuit based on said received first control signals;wherein the data flow controller causes the finite state machine to control the operational element to perform:a first selected logical operation, when all selected input signals are asserted and all selected output conditions are asserted,a second selected logical operation, when any selected input signal is asserted and all selected output conditions are asserted,a third selected logical operation, when all selected input signals are asserted and any selected output conditions is asserted, anda fourth selected logical operation, when any selected input signal is asserted and any selected output conditions is asserted; and a programmable interconnection network for routing control signals to the finite state machine and the data flow controller, wherein
the configurable element does not have a program counter.