A multi-core processor manages contention amongst its cores for access to a shared resource using a semaphore that maintains separate access-request queues for different cores and uses a selectable scheduling algorithm to grant pending requests, one at a time. The semaphore signals the core whose request is granted by sending it an interrupt signal using a dedicated core line that is not part of the system bus. The granted request is then de-queued, and the core accesses the shared resource in response to receiving the interrupt signal. The use of dedicated core lines for transmitting interrupt signals from the semaphore to the cores alleviates the need for repeated polling of the semaphore on the system bus. The use of the scheduling algorithm prevents a potential race condition between contending cores.

Techniques in electronic systems, such as in systems comprising a CPU die and one or more external mixed-mode (analog) chips, may provide improvements advantages in one or more of system design, performance, cost, efficiency and programmability. In one embodiment, the CPU die comprises at least one microcontroller CPU and circuitry enabling the at least one CPU to have a full and transparent connectivity to an analog chip as if they are designed as a single chip microcontroller, while the interface design between the two is extremely efficient and with limited in number of wires, yet may provide improved performance without impact to functionality or the software model.

Techniques in electronic systems, such as in systems comprising a CPU die and one or more external mixed-mode (analog) chips, may provide improvements advantages in one or more of system design, performance, cost, efficiency and programmability. In one embodiment, the CPU die comprises at least one microcontroller CPU and circuitry enabling the at least one CPU to have a full and transparent connectivity to an analog chip as if they are designed as a single chip microcontroller, while the interface design between the two is extremely efficient and with limited in number of wires, yet may provide improved performance without impact to functionality or the software model.

The vector data path is divided into smaller vector lanes. A register such as a memory mapped control register stores a vector lane number (VLX) indicating the number of vector lanes to be powered. A decoder converts this VLX into a vector lane control word, each bit controlling the ON of OFF state of the corresponding vector lane. This number of contiguous least significant vector lanes are powered. In the preferred embodiment the stored data VLX indicates that 2.sup.VLX contiguous least significant vector lanes are to be powered. Thus the number of vector lanes powered is limited to an integral power of 2. This manner of coding produces a very compact controlling bit field while obtaining substantially all the power saving advantage of individually controlling the power of all vector lanes.

The vector data path is divided into smaller vector lanes. A register such as a memory mapped control register stores a vector lane number (VLX) indicating the number of vector lanes to be powered. A decoder converts this VLX into a vector lane control word, each bit controlling the ON of OFF state of the corresponding vector lane. This number of contiguous least significant vector lanes are powered. In the preferred embodiment the stored data VLX indicates that 2.sup.VLX contiguous least significant vector lanes are to be powered. Thus the number of vector lanes powered is limited to an integral power of 2. This manner of coding produces a very compact controlling bit field while obtaining substantially all the power saving advantage of individually controlling the power of all vector lanes.

A control method includes detecting an operational command to a first memory unit, interrupting an operational status of a second memory unit, asserting the operational command corresponding to the first memory unit, and recovering the operational status of the second memory unit. The first memory unit and the second memory unit correspond to the same channel.

A control method includes detecting an operational command to a first memory unit, interrupting an operational status of a second memory unit, asserting the operational command corresponding to the first memory unit, and recovering the operational status of the second memory unit. The first memory unit and the second memory unit correspond to the same channel.

A method for executing an application in a multitasking system is provided. The application is composed of at least one task for which the temporal triggering is specified in a first temporal reference frame that is asynchronous relative to the physical time, called first external clock domain, defined by a synchronous basic clock with changes of state of a peripheral device of the system. The method comprises a set of steps executed by the system upon reception of an occurrence of an interrupt in order to render the execution of the task deterministic or quasi-deterministic.

A method for executing an application in a multitasking system is provided. The application is composed of at least one task for which the temporal triggering is specified in a first temporal reference frame that is asynchronous relative to the physical time, called first external clock domain, defined by a synchronous basic clock with changes of state of a peripheral device of the system. The method comprises a set of steps executed by the system upon reception of an occurrence of an interrupt in order to render the execution of the task deterministic or quasi-deterministic.

An electronic computer includes a processor that executes a thread and an interrupt handler, and monitors load of the processor; and an interrupt controller that is configured to determine a notification timing for an interrupt request to call the interrupt handler, the notification timing being determined based on the load and an effect of execution of the interrupt handler on user performance of the thread under execution by the processor; and notify the processor of the interrupt request, based on the notification timing. When the load is higher than a threshold, the interrupt controller sets the notification timing for an interrupt request that does not affect the user performance, to be later than the notification timing for an interrupt request that affects the user performance. Based on notification of the interrupt request, the processor calls and executes the interrupt handler that corresponds to the interrupt request.