Computer and methods for solving math functions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9606796-B2
Application number	US-201314067343-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2013
Priority date	Oct 30, 2013
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

Computers and methods for performing mathematical functions are disclosed. An embodiment of a computer includes an operations level and a driver level. The operations level performs mathematical operations. The driver level includes a first lookup table and a second lookup table, wherein the first lookup table includes first data for calculating at least one mathematical function using a first level of accuracy. The second lookup table includes second data for calculating the at least one mathematical function using a second level of accuracy, wherein the first level of accuracy is greater than the second level of accuracy. A driver executes either the first data or the second data depending on a selected level of accuracy.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer comprising:
an operations level that performs mathematical operations; and
a driver level comprising:
a first lookup table, wherein the first lookup table includes first data for calculating at least one mathematical function using a first level of accuracy; and
a second lookup table, wherein the second lookup table includes second data for calculating the at least one mathematical function using a second level of accuracy, wherein the first level of accuracy is greater than the second level of accuracy; and
a driver that executes the data from the first lookup table and the second lookup table, and wherein the driver sends instructions to the operations level;

wherein executing data in the second lookup table for solving the at least one function uses less energy than executing data in the first lookup table for solving the at least one function.

2. A computer for performing mathematical functions, the computer comprising:
an operations level;
a driver level; and
an instruction level;
the operations level performing basic math operations;
the driver level including:
a first lookup table, wherein the first lookup table includes first data for calculating at least one mathematical function using a first level of accuracy; and
a second lookup table, wherein the second lookup table includes second data for calculating the at least one mathematical function using a second level of accuracy, wherein the first level of accuracy is greater than the second level of accuracy; and
a driver that executes the data from the first lookup table and the second lookup table, and wherein the driver sends instructions to the operation level and receives instructions from the instruction level;

the instruction level including:
a memory that stores instructions for solving complex functions;
a controller that executes the instructions stored in the memory and transmits instructions to the driver;

wherein the controller receives instructions indicating whether high accuracy or low energy is to be used in solving the function and wherein the controller instructs the driver to access the first lookup table when the function is to be solved using high accuracy and wherein the controller instructs the driver to access the second lookup table when the function is to be solved using low energy.

3. A method for reducing energy consumption of a computer to solve math functions, the method comprising:
receiving a math function to be solved;
receiving information as to whether the math function is to be solved using high energy or low energy;
executing instructions for solving the math function using at least one derived math function;
executing the derived math functions using data stored in a first lookup table if the math function is to be solved using high energy; and
executing the derived math functions using data stored in a second lookup table if the math function is to be solved using low energy.

Assignees

• Texas Instruments Inc

Inventors

• Lee Kyong Ho
• Lee Seok-Jun
• Goel Manish

Classifications

• G06F7/483

  Computations with numbers represented by a non-linear combination of denominational numbers, e.g. rational numbers, logarithmic number system or floating-point numbers {(G06F7/4806, G06F7/4824, G06F7/49, G06F7/491, G06F7/544 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G06F17/17 Primary

  Function evaluation by approximation methods, e.g. inter- or extrapolation, smoothing, least mean square method ({G06F17/18 takes precedence } ; interpolation for numerical control G05B19/18) · CPC title

• G06F7/544 Primary

  for evaluating functions by calculation {(G06F7/4824 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G06F9/3001 Primary

  Arithmetic instructions · CPC title