A multimedia extension unit (MEU) is provided for performing various
multimedia-type operations. The MEU can be coupled either through a
coprocessor bus or a local CPU bus to a conventional processor. The MEU
employs vector registers, a vector ALU, and an operand routing unit (ORU)
to perform a maximum number of the multimedia operations within as few
instruction cycles as possible. Complex algorithms are readily performed
by arranging operands upon the vector ALU in accordance with the desired
algorithm flowgraph. The ORU aligns the operands within partitioned slots
or sub-slots of the vector registers using vector instructions unique to
the MEU. At the output of the ORU, operand pairs from vector source or
destination registers can be easily routed and combined at the vector ALU.
The vector instructions employ special load/store instructions in
combination with numerous operational instructions to carry out concurrent
multimedia operations on the aligned operands.