JPH05233277A - Microprocessor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain a complex period processing function by a program instead of hardware by providing this microprocessor with a time adjusting means for adjusting time between plural instruction codes to be executed by a processing unit. CONSTITUTION:The microprocessor 1 is provided with the processing unit 2, the time adjusting means 3 and a buffer 8. The means 3 adjusts time between plural instruction codes to be executed by the unit 2. When the means 3 is constituted of a time measuring means 4, a time constant time setting means 5, a difference computing means 6, and an idle status inserting means 7, the mens 4 measures time between instruction codes, the means 6 computes a difference between the time measured by the means 4 and specified time set up by the means 5, and the means 7 inserts an idle state only for a time matched with the difference obtained by the means 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a microprocessor suitable for synchronous processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional microprocessors include those that execute in one clock cycle and those that require several clock cycles in terms of the number of clock cycles required to execute one instruction. There is no such thing as a function that provides synchronous processing between input and output. However, in a certain type of processing, a function of performing a certain set of processing at fixed time intervals, so to speak, a function of operating so that a synchronous digital circuit operates in synchronization with a clock is required. In the conventional microprocessor, the above function is realized by using the timer interrupt.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional microprocessor, when a certain coherent processing is executed synchronously, it is realized by using a timer interrupt. Since the processing is inherently time-consuming, it is difficult to measure the exact synchronization time, and it is applicable to synchronization in microprocessor clock cycle units, that is, to a synchronization method that substitutes for a hardware synchronization circuit. Can not.

The present invention was devised in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a microprocessor capable of realizing by software a function capable of performing accurate synchronization comparable to a hardware synchronization circuit. And

[0005]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a microprocessor, which is a processing unit 2, a time adjusting means 3, and a time adjusting means 3, which will be described below. A buffer 8 is provided. Here, the processing unit 2 executes the instruction code, and the time adjusting means 3 adjusts the time between the instruction codes executed by the processing unit 2. The time adjusting means 3 comprises a time measuring means 4, a specific time setting means 5, a difference calculating means 6, and an idle state inserting means 7, which will be described below.

The time measuring means 4 measures the time between instruction codes. A counter is used as the time measuring means 4, and when the instruction code indicating the start of measurement is executed, the counter is reset, and when the instruction code indicating the end of measurement is executed, the count value is read out. It may be configured to be. The specific time setting means 5 sets a specific time. Difference calculation means 6
Is for calculating the difference between the time measured by the time measuring means 4 and the specific time set by the specific time setting means 5.

The idle state inserting means 7 inserts the idle state for a time commensurate with the difference obtained by the difference calculating means 6. The buffer 8 plays a role of an interface with the external bus.

[0008]

In the microprocessor of the present invention described above, the time adjustment means 3 adjusts the time between the instruction codes executed by the processing unit 2. At this time, when the time adjusting means 3 is configured to include the time measuring means 4, the specific time setting means 5, the difference calculating means 6, and the idle state inserting means 7, the time measuring means 4 uses the command code Is calculated, the difference calculation means 6 calculates the difference between the time measured by the time measurement means 4 and the specific time set by the specific time setting means 5, and the idle state insertion means 7 calculates the difference. The operation of inserting the idle state is performed for a time commensurate with the difference obtained by the means 6.

When a counter is used as the time measuring means 4, the counter is reset when the instruction code indicating the measurement start is executed, and when the instruction code indicating the measurement end code is executed, the counter is reset. By reading the count value, the time between instruction codes executed by the processing unit 2 is measured.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 is a microprocessor, and the microprocessor 21 includes a processing unit 22, a clock counter 23 as a time measuring means, and a micro program storage section. 24, a buffer 25, and a register 26.

Here, the processing unit 22 executes the instruction code, and the clock counter 23 counts the basic clock supplied to the microprocessor 21. The clock counter 23 is obtained by internally dividing the basic clock, inputting to the microprocessor 21 separately from the basic clock, or dividing the same, or the microprocessor 21.
You may comprise so that it may count using any of the clocks from the oscillation source built into itself.

The microprogram storage section 24 stores a microprogram (instruction code or the like), the buffer 25 has a role of interface with an external bus, and the register 26 has a role of working memory. To have. By the way, the microprocessor 21 has a code (initialization instruction code) for resetting the clock counter 23 in the instruction code, a code (synchronization instruction) indicating that the series of processing is completed, and a desired synchronization time ( It is provided with a parameter (which is given as a parameter in the instruction code) for setting the specific time) and the like, whereby the processing unit 22 and the clock counter 2 which constitute the microprocessor 21 are provided.
3, the micro program storage unit 24, the register 26,
Time adjustment means between instruction codes executed by the processing unit 22 (this time adjustment means is time measurement means (clock counter 23) for measuring the time between instruction codes, specific time setting means for setting a specific time, Difference calculating means for calculating the difference between the time measured by the time measuring means 23 and the specific time set by the specific time setting means, and an idle state in which an idle state is inserted for a time commensurate with the difference obtained by the difference calculating means It is configured to include an inserting means].

In this case, the clock counter 23 is used as the time measuring means. When the instruction code indicating the measurement start is executed, the clock counter 23 is reset and indicates the measurement end code. When the instruction code (initialization instruction code) is executed, the count value is read by the processing unit 22.

The above-mentioned synchronization time (specific time) may be set as a value unique to the instruction code, or may be set in advance to the microprocessor 21 through an internal register or memory. Alternatively, the microprocessor 21 may be set by hardware. The operation of the present embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to the operation flowchart shown in FIG. First, the user of the microprocessor 21 issues an initialization command for the clock counter 23 at the beginning of a certain synchronization cycle (see step A1-1). When the microprocessor 21 receives the initialization instruction, the microprocessor 21 initializes the clock counter 23 (steps B1-1 and B2-1). During this period, the initialization instruction execution time is on the scale on the time axis.

Thereafter, the user issues a series of processing instructions (step A2-1), which is normally processed in the microprocessor 21. During this period, the synchronization processing time is on the scale on the time axis. Then, the user issues a synchronization instruction at the end of the series of instructions (step A3-1). Upon receiving this command, the microprocessor 21 first reads the value of the clock counter 23, recognizes the elapsed time after issuing the initialization command, compares this value with a desired synchronization time (specific time), and compares this value with the synchronization time. In order to obtain a time which is less than, the idle cycle / state is inserted so that the synchronization time has just passed when the next instruction is executed (steps B3-1 and B4-).
1). During this period, on the scale on the time axis, the synchronous instruction execution time and the idle state time thereafter follow.

In the second and subsequent cycles, the same processing as above is performed. Therefore, by using a microprocessor having the above-mentioned mechanism, a user can execute instruction processing synchronously by inserting synchronization initialization and synchronization instructions before and after a series of synchronized instructions. It will be possible. Therefore, by using a microprocessor that operates with a high-speed clock these days, it becomes possible to perform the processing conventionally performed by hardware by a program.

[0017]

As described in detail above, according to the microprocessor of the present invention, since the means for adjusting the time between the instruction codes executed by the processing units is provided, the microprocessor can be operated exactly as hardware. The synchronization function can be realized by software, and thus the complicated synchronization processing function can be realized by a program instead of hardware. Moreover, since it can be realized by software, there is an advantage that the number of development man-hours can be reduced and a simpler and cheaper product can be produced as compared with the case of using hardware.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 21 Microprocessor 2, 22 Processing unit 3 Time adjustment means 4 Time measurement means 5 Specific time setting means 6 Difference calculation means 7 Idle state insertion means 8, 25 Buffer 23 Clock counter 24 Micro program storage section 26 Register

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A microprocessor (1) having a processing unit (2) for executing an instruction code, comprising time adjustment means (3) for the instruction code executed by the processing unit (2). A microprocessor characterized in that 2. A time measuring means (4) for measuring the time between the instruction codes by the time adjusting means (3).
And a specific time setting means (5) for setting the specific time, and a difference between the time measured by the time measuring means (4) and the specific time set by the specific time setting means (5). A difference calculation means (6), and an idle state insertion means (7) for inserting an idle state for a time commensurate with the difference obtained by the difference calculation means (6). The microprocessor according to Item 1. 3. A counter is provided as the time measuring means (4), and when the counter is reset when an instruction code indicating a measurement start is executed, and at the same time an instruction code indicating a measurement end code is executed. 3. The microprocessor according to claim 2, wherein the count value is read out.