ELECTRIC POWER SAVING METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SELECTIVELY ENABLING COMPARATOR FOR A CAM RENAMING REGISTER FILE BASED UPON A KNOWN PROCESSOR STATE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save electric power of a renaming register file.

SOLUTION: A mapping unit converts an instruction register number (IRN) into a logical register number (LRN). The renaming register file maps LRNs to physical register numbers (PRN). Physical registers more than addressable registers are available because of direct use of IRNs. The renaming register file provides a mapping function using a content addressable memory (CAM). Further, the renaming register file CAM selectively enables a tag comparator using current processor state information to minimize the electric power during access to registers. When the tag comparator is not enabled, the tag comparator enters a low-electric-power state. A processor is also described using the renaming register file having a low-electric-power feature.

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