Apparatus and method for controlling instruction flow by using a matrix of transmission gates in super-scaler microprocessor and selectively delaying microprocessor instruction execution based on resource availability

摘要

An instruction flow control circuit controls the selection and execution of instruction signals in a microprocessor having multiple execution units that can execute plural instructions at one time. The instruction flow control circuit compares a number of signals indicating how many execution units are available with a number of signals indicating how many execution units are required. The circuit is a matrix of transmission gates which propagate signals through, or shift signals between, various signal paths for available resources, depending on the signals requesting the executing units. A number of output gates suppress the execution of instruction signals where an execution unit is requested but none are available.