Method and apparatus for implementing two architectures in a chip

摘要

The present invention is a method for implementing two architectures on a single chip. The method uses a fetch engine to retrieve instructions. If the instructions are macroinstructions, then it decodes the macroinstructions into microinstructions, and then bundles those microinstructions using a bundler, within an emulation engine. The bundles are issued in parallel and dispatched to the execution engine and contain pre-decode bits so that the execution engine treats them as microinstructions. Before being transferred to the execution engine, the instructions may be held in a buffer. The method also selects between bundled microinstructions from the emulation engine and native microinstructions coming directly from the fetch engine, by using a multiplexer or other means. Both native microinstructions and bundled microinstructions may be held in the buffer. The method also sends additional information to the execution engine.