Robert C Pryor

US Patent:

58121471, Sep 22, 1998

Filed:

Sep 20, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/716972

Inventors:

Timothy J. Van Hook - Atherton CA
Henry P. Moreton - Oakland CA
Michael L. Fuccio - Sunnyvale CA
Robert W. Pryor - Fremont CA
Charles F. Tuffli - Cupertino CA

Assignee:

Silicon Graphics, Inc. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

345511

Abstract:

Instruction methods for moving data between memory and a vector register file while performing data formatting. The methods are processed by a processor having a vector register file and a memory unit. The methods are useful in the graphics art because they allow more efficient movement and processing of raster formatted graphics data. The vector register file has a number of vector registers (e. g. , 32) that each contain multi-bits of storage (e. g. , 128 bits). In one class of instructions, eight byte locations within memory are simultaneously loaded into eight separate 16 bit locations within a register of the register file. The data can be integer or fraction and signed or unsigned. The data can also be stored from the register file back to memory. In a second class of instructions, alternate locations of a memory qaudword are selected and simultaneously loaded in the register file.