公开(公告)号：US11847489B2

公开(公告)日：2023-12-19

申请号：US17158943

申请日：2021-01-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Max J. Batley ,  Jonathan M. Redshaw ,  Ji Rao ,  Ali Rabbani Rankouhi

IPC: G06F9/48 ,  G06F9/50 ,  G06F9/54 ,  G06F13/37 ,  G06F13/36 ,  G06F9/38 ,  G06F13/42 ,  G06F13/40

CPC classification number: G06F9/4881 ,  G06F9/3877 ,  G06F9/505 ,  G06F9/544 ,  G06F9/545 ,  G06F13/36 ,  G06F13/37 ,  G06F13/4022 ,  G06F13/4282 ,  G06F9/5027

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to a shared control bus for communicating between primary control circuitry and multiple distributed graphics processor units. In some embodiments, a set of multiple processor units includes first and second graphics processors, where the first and second graphics processors are coupled to access graphics data via respective memory interfaces. A shared workload distribution bus is used to transmit control data that specifies graphics work distribution to the multiple graphics processing units. The shared workload distribution bus may be arranged in a chain topology, e.g., to connect the workload distribution circuitry to the first graphics processor and connect the first graphics processor to the second graphics processor such that the workload distribution circuitry communicates with the second graphics processor via the shared workload distribution bus connection to the first graphics processor. Disclosed techniques may facilitate graphics work distribution for a scalable number of processors.

公开(公告)号：US20220237028A1

公开(公告)日：2022-07-28

申请号：US17158943

申请日：2021-01-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Max J. Batley ,  Jonathan M. Redshaw ,  Ji Rao ,  Ali Rabbani Rankouhi

IPC: G06F9/48 ,  G06F9/50 ,  G06F9/38 ,  G06F9/54 ,  G06F13/42

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to a shared control bus for communicating between primary control circuitry and multiple distributed graphics processor units. In some embodiments, a set of multiple processor units includes first and second graphics processors, where the first and second graphics processors are coupled to access graphics data via respective memory interfaces. A shared workload distribution bus is used to transmit control data that specifies graphics work distribution to the multiple graphics processing units. The shared workload distribution bus may be arranged in a chain topology, e.g., to connect the workload distribution circuitry to the first graphics processor and connect the first graphics processor to the second graphics processor such that the workload distribution circuitry communicates with the second graphics processor via the shared workload distribution bus connection to the first graphics processor. Disclosed techniques may facilitate graphics work distribution for a scalable number of processors.

公开(公告)号：US20240054014A1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-15

申请号：US18493993

申请日：2023-10-25

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Max J. Batley ,  Jonathan M. Redshaw ,  Ji Rao ,  Ali Rabbani Rankouhi

IPC: G06F9/48 ,  G06F9/38 ,  G06F9/50 ,  G06F9/54 ,  G06F13/42 ,  G06F13/36 ,  G06F13/37 ,  G06F13/40

CPC classification number: G06F9/4881 ,  G06F9/3877 ,  G06F9/505 ,  G06F9/544 ,  G06F9/545 ,  G06F13/4282 ,  G06F13/36 ,  G06F13/37 ,  G06F13/4022 ,  G06F9/5027

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to a shared control bus for communicating between primary control circuitry and multiple distributed graphics processor units. In some embodiments, a set of multiple graphics processor units including at least first and second graphics processors on different semiconductor substrates that are packaged in a multi-chip module, where the first and second graphics processors are coupled to access graphics data via respective memory interfaces. The shared workload distribution bus may include: one or more interfaces between respective graphics processors on the same semiconductor substrate and at least one cross-substrate interface between the different semiconductor substrates. Workload distribution circuitry may transmit, via the shared workload distribution bus, control data that specifies graphics work distribution to the multiple graphics processor units. Packet control circuitry may modify packets from at least one of the one or more interfaces for transmission via the cross-substrate interface.