Are you an EPFL student looking for a semester project?
Work with us on data science and visualisation projects, and deploy your project as an app on top of GraphSearch.
Concept
Datapath
Summary
A data path is a collection of functional units such as arithmetic logic units (ALUs) or multipliers that perform data processing operations, registers, and buses. Along with the control unit it composes the central processing unit (CPU). A larger data path can be made by joining more than one data paths using multiplexers.
A data path is the ALU, the set of registers, and the CPU's internal bus(es) that allow data to flow between them.
The simplest design for a CPU uses one common internal bus.
Efficient addition requires a slightly more complicated three-internal-bus structure.
Many relatively simple CPUs have a 2-read, 1-write
connected to the 2 inputs and 1 output of the ALU.
During the late 1990s, there was growing research in the area of reconfigurable data paths—data paths that may be re-purposed at run-time using programmable fabric—as such designs may allow for more efficient processing as well as substantial power savings.
A finite-state machine with data path (FSMD) is a mathematical abstraction which combines a finite-state machine, which controls the program flow, with a data path. It can be used to design digital logic or computer programs.
FSMDs are essentially sequential programs in which statements have been scheduled into states, thus resulting in more complex state diagrams. Here, a program is converted into a complex state diagram in which states and arcs may include arithmetic expressions, and those expressions may use external inputs and outputs as well as variables. The FSMD level of abstraction is often referred to as the register-transfer level.
FSMs do not use variables or arithmetic operations/conditions, thus FSMDs are more powerful than FSMs. An FSMD is equivalent to a Turing machine in expressiveness.
Official source
About this result
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.
Related people (2)
Related concepts (6)
Control unit
The control unit (CU) is a component of a computer's central processing unit (CPU) that directs the operation of the processor. A CU typically uses a binary decoder to convert coded instructions into timing and control signals that direct the operation of the other units (memory, arithmetic logic unit and input and output devices, etc.). Most computer resources are managed by the CU. It directs the flow of data between the CPU and the other devices. John von Neumann included the control unit as part of the Von Neumann architecture.
Datapath
A data path is a collection of functional units such as arithmetic logic units (ALUs) or multipliers that perform data processing operations, registers, and buses. Along with the control unit it composes the central processing unit (CPU). A larger data path can be made by joining more than one data paths using multiplexers. A data path is the ALU, the set of registers, and the CPU's internal bus(es) that allow data to flow between them. The simplest design for a CPU uses one common internal bus.
Processor design
Processor design is a subfield of computer science and computer engineering (fabrication) that deals with creating a processor, a key component of computer hardware. The design process involves choosing an instruction set and a certain execution paradigm (e.g. VLIW or RISC) and results in a microarchitecture, which might be described in e.g. VHDL or Verilog. For microprocessor design, this description is then manufactured employing some of the various semiconductor device fabrication processes, resulting in a die which is bonded onto a chip carrier.
Related courses (2)
CS-472: Design technologies for integrated systems
Hardware compilation is the process of transforming specialized hardware description languages into circuit descriptions, which are iteratively refined, detailed and optimized. The course presents a
EE-334: Digital systems design
Students will acquire basic knowledge about methodologies and tools for the design, optimization, and verification of custom digital systems/hardware.
They learn how to design synchronous digital cir
Related lectures (12)
Designing Datapath and Control Logic for ISA Instructions
Explores the design of datapath and control logic for executing ISA instructions, focusing on hardwired control and performance analysis.
Power Consumption and Energy
Explores the significance of power and energy in VLSI design, covering topics like power reduction, energy efficiency, and voltage scaling.
Multi-Cycle MIPS Processor
Explores the design and performance analysis of a Multi-Cycle MIPS Processor compared to a Single-Cycle Processor, emphasizing benefits and downsides.