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Chapter 12 Instruction Cache
1.General description
Chapter 12 Instruction Cache

This chapter describes the instruction cache memory included in MB91460 family members and

its operation.

1. General description

The instruction cache is a fast local memory for temporary storage. Once an instruction is
accessed to be fetched from external slower memory, the instruction cache holds the instruction
code inside to increase the speed of accessing the same code from then on. The instruction
cache data RAM and tag RAM are made directly read/write-accessible by software by setting the
RAM mode. To turn off the instruction cache after turning it on once, be sure to use the
subroutine shown in Section 4.2.4 "Settings for handling the I-Cache".

2. Main body structure

FR basic instruction length: 2 bytes
Block arrangement system: 2-way set associative system
Block 128 blocks per way
16 bytes per block (= 4 sub-blocks)
4 bytes per sub-block (= 1 bus access unit)
Figure 2-1 Instruction Cache Structure
Cache tag Sub-block 0 Block 0
Block 127
Sub-block 1
Sub-block 2
Sub-block 3
Cache tag Sub-block 0
Sub-block 1
Sub-block 2
Sub-block 3
4 bytes
128 Blocks
4 bytes
I3
4 bytes
I2
4 bytes
I1
4 bytes
I0
Way 1
Cache tag Sub-block 0 Block 0
Block 127
Sub-block 1
Sub-block 2
Sub-block 3
Cache tag Sub-block 0
Sub-block 1
Sub-block 2
Sub-block 3
128 Blocks
Way 2