System and method for generating supplemental ready signals to eliminate wasted cycles between operations

摘要

A data processing system comprising a controller, a functional unit coupled to the controller, to perform a first operation having an operational latency, and a supplemental ready signal generator coupled to the controller. The functional unit requires an initial lead time period before beginning a second operation. After the supplemental ready signal generator receives a first load signal it forwards a supplemental ready signal to the controller. The timing of the supplemental ready signal is a function of the operational latency. The supplemental ready signal indicates to the controller when the functional unit will output results corresponding to the first operation. The controller can then send a second load signal to the functional unit early enough to accommodate the initial lead time period, thereby permitting the functional unit to perform the second operation after the first operation completes without incurring wait cycles between the first and second operations.