Method and apparatus for executing coprocessor instructions

摘要

A semiconductor device having a main processor and a coprocessor for data processing is disclosed, the device comprising a main program memory for storing main processor instructions and a first portion of coprocessor instructions, a coprocessor program memory for storing a second portion of coprocessor instructions, and a predecoder for predecoding at least one bit of each instruction fetched from the main program memory and for generating an active coprocessor control signal upon predecoding a coprocessor type instruction, wherein the second portion of coprocessor instructions are fetched directly from the coprocessor program memory and the first portion and the second portion of coprocessor instructions are processed by the coprocessor upon receipt of the active coprocessor control signal.