Author: claimsbot

1. An imaging system for use in an exterior or interior of a vehicle, the imaging system comprising:
a camera having an image sensor with an associated optical path, the image sensor adapted for generating an output that is indicative of lighting conditions in a viewing area of the camera; and
an infrared filter associated with the image sensor for attenuating infrared radiation;
wherein the infrared filter is movable as a result of the output of the image sensor, between a first position in which the infrared filter is disposed in the optical path of the image sensor for preventing transmission of the infrared radiation to the image sensor, and a second position in which the infrared filter is spaced from the optical path of the image sensor and does not prevent transmission of the infrared radiation to the image sensor; and
wherein, when the output is less than a first threshold, the infrared filter is in the first position, and when the output is greater than a second threshold which is greater than the first threshold, the infrared filter is in the second position.
2. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the output is a gain determined by an Automatic Gain Control.
3. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the output is a value representative of a gain determined by an Automatic Gain Control.
4. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the output is an exposure.
5. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the output is a white balance.
6. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the second threshold is twice the first threshold.
7. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the infrared filter automatically moves between the first position and the second position as a result of lighting conditions in the viewing area of the camera.
8. The imaging system according to claim 7 and further comprising a solenoid that moves the infrared filter between the first position and the second position.
9. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the infrared filter is manually moved between the first position and the second position.
10. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the camera further comprises an infrared filter holder for mounting the infrared filter to the camera.
11. The imaging system according to claim 10, wherein the infrared filter holder pivots relative to the image sensor to move the infrared filter between the first position and the second position.
12. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the image sensor comprises a focal length, and the infrared filter has a thickness that does not substantially change the focal length of the image sensor as the infrared filter moves between the first position and the second position.
13. The imaging system according to claim 1 and further comprising a supplemental illumination system comprising at least one light source for providing supplemental illumination to the viewing area of the camera.
14. The imaging system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode.
15. The imaging system according to claim 14, wherein the light emitting diode is an infrared light emitting diode.
16. The imaging system according to claim 14, wherein the light emitting diode is a white light emitting diode.
17. The imaging system according to claim 14, wherein the light emitting diode is a colored light emitting diode.
18. The imaging system according to claim 13, wherein the vehicle comprises a license plate lightbar, and the supplemental illumination system is mounted to the lightbar.
19. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a center high mount stop lamp, and the supplemental illumination system is mounted to the center high mount stop lamp.
20. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises at least one tail lamp, and the supplemental illumination system is mounted to the at least one tail lamp.
21. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the camera and the supplemental illumination system form a unitary module.
22. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is directed rearwardly of the vehicle.
23. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the supplemental illumination system is selectively actuable when the imaging system is activated.
24. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the supplemental illumination system is selectively actuable when the infrared filter is automatically positioned in one of the first position and the second position in accordance with lighting conditions in a viewing area of the camera.
25. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the image sensor is a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor.
26. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the infrared radiation comprises wavelengths between about 700 nm and 1 mm.
27. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the infrared radiation comprises near-infrared radiation.
28. An imaging system for use in an exterior or interior of a vehicle, the imaging system comprising:
a camera having an image sensor with an associated optical path, and a viewing area; and
an infrared filter associated with the image sensor for selectively attenuating infrared radiation, and movable as a result of an output of the image sensor indicative of light conditions in the viewing area of the camera, between a first position, in which the infrared filter is disposed in the optical path of the image sensor for preventing transmission of the infrared radiation to the image sensor, and a second position, in which the infrared filter is spaced from the optical path of the image sensor and does not prevent transmission of the infrared radiation to the image sensor;
wherein the infrared filter is automatically responsive to light conditions in the viewing area such that the infrared filter prevents the image sensor from being exposed to infrared radiation when light conditions in the viewing area correspond to bright light conditions and does not prevent the image sensor from being exposed to infrared radiation when the light conditions in the viewing area correspond to low light conditions; and
wherein, when the output is less than a first threshold, the infrared filter is in the first position, and when the output is greater than a second threshold which is greater than the first threshold, the infrared filter is in the second position.
29. The imaging system according to claim 28, wherein the output is a gain determined by an Automatic Gain Control.
30. The imaging system according to claim 28, wherein the output is a value representative of a gain determined by an Automatic Gain Control.
31. The imaging system according to claim 28 and further comprising a supplemental illumination system comprising at least one light source for providing supplemental illumination to the viewing area of the camera.
32. The imaging system according to claim 31, wherein the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode.
33. The imaging system according to claim 32, wherein the supplemental illumination system is selectively actuable when the imaging system is activated.
34. The imaging system according to claim 28, wherein an indication of light conditions in the vicinity of the camera comprises a gain applied to pixels of an image captured by the image sensor.
35. An imaging system for use in an exterior or interior of a vehicle, the imaging system comprising:
a camera having an image sensor for generating an image output representative of an image captured by the image sensor with an associated optical path and viewing area, the image sensor generating a light condition output that is indicative of lighting conditions in the viewing area; and
an infrared filter associated with the image sensor, and movable between a first position, wherein the infrared filter is disposed in the optical path of the image sensor for preventing transmission of the infrared radiation to the image sensor, and a second position, wherein the infrared filter is spaced from the optical path of the image sensor and does not prevent transmission of the infrared radiation to the image sensor;
wherein the infrared filter moves to the first position to prevent the image sensor from being exposed to infrared radiation when the light condition output of the image sensor is less than a first threshold value corresponding to bright light conditions, and moves to the second position to not prevent the image sensor from being exposed to infrared radiation when the light condition output is greater than a second threshold value corresponding to low light conditions, that is twice the first threshold value.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1-4. (canceled)
5. A device for preparing bedding from pourable solid material separated from liquid cattle manure, comprising:
a horizontally oriented rotary drum having an inlet side at one axial end and an outlet side at an axial end opposite the inlet side;
means for rotating said rotary drum about a longitudinal rotary axis;
inlet means at said inlet side of the rotary drum for supplying untreated pourable solid material into said rotary drum;
outlet means at said outlet side for discharging treated pourable solid material usable as bedding from said rotary drum; and
ventilation means for introducing fresh air into the interior of the rotary drum through said outlet means and means for suctioning off used air from the interior of the rotary drum in the vicinity of said inlet means,
wherein said inlet means comprises at least a single release chamber disposed within the rotary drum at the inlet side thereof for receiving an amount of untreated pourable solid material, said release chamber being located radially offset from said longitudinal rotary axis; and
wherein said release chamber has a discharge opening for discharging the untreated material in the release chamber into the interior of the rotary drum, and closing means adapted and configured for opening said discharge opening only when the release chamber, during rotation of the rotary drum, is in a momentary circumferential position in which it is not exposed to the pourable solid material present in the rotary drum and for closing said discharge opening in a momentary circumferential position of the release chamber prior to becoming exposed again to the pourable solid material present in the rotary drum.
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said inlet means further comprises an antechamber, said antechamber rotating in common with said rotary drum and being bound by outer and inner side walls spaced from each other, a funnel for supplying untreated pourable solid material into the antechamber, and an inlet channel provided between said side walls of the antechamber for picking up an amount of the untreated pourable solid material contained in the antechamber during rotation thereof, said inlet channel having an opening communicating with said release chamber for transferring during rotation of the antechamber the untreated pourable solid material contained in the inlet channel into said release chamber.
7. The device according to claim 5, wherein said inlet means comprises a plurality of release chambers circumferentially spaced from each other, each of said release chambers having a discharge opening for discharging the untreated material contained therein, and closing means adapted and configured for opening said discharge opening only when said release chamber, during rotation of the rotary drum, is in a momentary circumferential position in which it is not exposed to the pourable solid material contained in the rotary drum, and for closing said discharge opening in a momentary circumferential position of the release chamber prior to becoming exposed again to said pourable solid material contained in the rotary drum.
8. The device according to claim 5, wherein said rotary drum further comprises blades attached to an inner circumferential surface of the rotary drum for advancing the pourable solid material present in the rotary drum towards the outlet means thereof, and guide plates effective in an opposite direction being arranged in the vicinity of the outlet side of the rotary drum and fixed at a distance of about half a radius from said circumferential surface of the drum.
9. The device according to claim 5, wherein said closing means for closing and opening said discharge opening comprises a flap adapted and configured for covering the discharge opening and to be movable by gravity between open and closed positions thereof.
10. The device according to claim 5, wherein said ventilation means comprises a suction pipe extending in the vicinity of said inlet means into the interior of the rotary drum and open to an upper portion thereof, which portion is free of pourable solid material.
11. A method of preparing bedding from pourable solid material separated from liquid cattle manure in a horizontally oriented rotary drum, said rotary drum having a rotary axis, and further having at least a single inlet means adjacent one axial end thereof for introducing untreated solid material into said rotary drum, and outlet means for withdrawing treated solid material usable as bedding from said rotary drum adjacent the other axial end thereof, said method comprising the steps of:
maintaining a filling degree inside the rotary drum such that a zone free of solid material exists above a filling level of the solid material within the rotary drum by controlling the amount of solid material introduced into and withdrawn from said rotary drum;
opening said inlet means for introducing said untreated solid material into said zone free of solid material during a first period of a full rotation of the rotary drum when said inlet means is exposed to said zone while closing said inlet means during a subsequent period when said inlet means is exposed to the solid material within the rotary drum;
conveying the solid material within the rotary drum in a direction towards the outlet means by rotating the rotary drum; and
continuously introducing fresh air into said zone free of solid material and extracting used air therefrom.
12. The method according to claim 11, in which said fresh air is introduced into said rotary drum adjacent an end side thereof facing the outlet means while the used air is extracted from an end side of the rotary drum adjacent the inlet means thereof.
13. The method according to claim 11, in which said filling degree is maintained in a range between about 60% and 70% of a total filling of the rotary drum.
14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of supplying said untreated solid material into an antechamber of said rotary drum prior to introducing it into said zone free of solid material, said antechamber rotating in common with said rotary drum and having a supply inlet for said untreated solid material and an outlet communicating with said inlet means of said rotary drum.
15. The method according to claim 11, the step of introducing said untreated solid material into said rotary drum comprises the step of introducing said untreated solid material at a plurality of portions circumferentially spaced about said rotary axis, each of said portions having an inlet means which is opened when it is exposed to said zone free of solid material, and closed when it is exposed to said solid material.

1-26. (canceled)
27. A single chip microcontroller unit, comprising:
a processing unit having normal power mode of operation and a low power mode of operation;
analog circuitry connected to the processing unit;
digital circuitry connected to the processing unit;
a power management unit controlling power operation of the processing unit, the analog circuitry and the digital circuitry; and
a system voltage monitoring circuit for generating a system voltage control signal to maintain the power management unit in a reset mode responsive to a system voltage level with respect to a predetermined level during start-up of the single chip microcontroller unit.
28. The single chip microcontroller unit of claim 27, wherein the system voltage monitoring circuit further comprises:
an uncalibrated system voltage detector for generating a first control signal responsive to the system voltage level with respect to the predetermined level;
power on reset circuitry for generating a power on reset signal to maintain the power management unit in the reset state when the first control signal indicates the system voltage level does not exceed the predetermined level;
a calibrated system voltage detector for generating a second control signal responsive to the system voltage level with respect to the predetermined level;
control logic connected to receive the first control signal, the reset signal and the second control signal for generating an indication whether the system voltage level exceeds the predetermined level responsive to the first control signal, the reset signal and the second control signal.
29. The single chip microcontroller unit of claim 28, wherein the calibrated system voltage detector has the predetermined level calibrated responsive to a plurality of trim bits from the processing unit.
30. The single chip microcontroller unit of claim 28, wherein the control logic further comprises:
a NOR gate connected to receive the second control signal from the calibrated system voltage detector at a first input of the NOR gate and the reset signal on a second input of the NOR gate; and
an AND gate having a first input of the AND gate connected to an output of the NOR gate and a second input of the AND gate connected to receive the first control signal from the uncalibrated system voltage detector, the AND gate generating the indication of whether the system voltage lever exceeds the predetermined level on an output of the AND gate.
31. A single chip microcontroller unit, comprising:
a processing unit having normal power mode of operation and a low power mode of operation;
analog circuitry connected to the processing unit;
digital circuitry connected to the processing unit;
a power management unit controlling power operation of the processing unit, the analog circuitry and the digital circuitry; and
a system voltage monitoring circuit for generating a system voltage control signal to the power management unit responsive to a system voltage level with respect to a predetermined level, wherein the system voltage monitoring circuit further comprises:
an uncalibrated system voltage detector for generating a first control signal responsive to the system voltage level with respect to the predetermined level;
power on reset circuitry for generating a power on reset signal to maintain the single chip microcontroller unit in a reset state when the first control signal indicates the system voltage level does not exceed the predetermined level;
a calibrated system voltage detector for generating a second control signal responsive to the system voltage level with respect to the predetermined level; and
control logic connected to receive the first control signal, the reset signal and the second control signal for generating an indication whether the system voltage level exceeds the predetermined level responsive to the first control signal, the reset signal and the second control signal.
32. The single chip microcontroller unit of claim 31, wherein the calibrated system voltage detector has the predetermined level calibrated responsive to a plurality of trim bits from the processing unit.
33. The single chip microcontroller unit of claim 31, wherein the control logic further comprises:
a NOR gate connected to receive the second control signal from the calibrated system voltage detector at a first input of the NOR gate and the reset signal on a second input of the NOR gate; and
an AND gate having a first input of the AND gate connected to an output of the NOR gate and a second input of the AND gate connected to receive the first control signal from the uncalibrated system voltage detector, the AND gate generating the indication of whether the system voltage lever exceeds the predetermined level on an output of the AND gate.
34. A method for monitoring a system voltage during start-up, comprising the steps of:
powering up a single chip microcontroller unit;
performing an uncalibrated measurement of the system voltage level with respect to a predetermined level;
generating a first control signal responsive to the calibrated measurement;
generating a power on reset signal to maintain the single chip microcontroller unit in a reset state when the first control signal indicates the system voltage level does not exceed the predetermined level;
performing a calibrated measurement responsive to the system voltage level with respect to the predetermined level;
generating a second control signal responsive to the calibrated measurement; and
generating an indication whether the system voltage level exceeds the predetermined level responsive to the first control signal, the reset signal and the second control signal.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of performing the calibrated measurement further comprises the step of calibrating a system voltage detector responsive to a plurality of trim bits from a control unit.
36. A single chip microcontroller unit, comprising:
a processing unit having normal power mode of operation and a low power mode of operation;
analog circuitry connected to the processing unit;
digital circuitry connected to the processing unit;
a power management unit controlling power operation of the processing unit, the analog circuitry and the digital circuitry; and
a supply monitoring circuit for determining if a chip supply voltage level exceeds a threshold level.
37. The single chip microcontroller unit of claim 36, wherein the supply monitoring circuit further comprises:
a first comparator circuit for comparing a band gap voltage to a reference threshold voltage; and
an enable circuit for disabling the first comparator circuit until the band gap voltage stabilizes at start up.
38. The single chip microcontroller unit of claim 37, wherein the supply monitoring circuit further comprises a disable circuit for disabling the supply monitoring circuit responsive to a disable control signal from the processing unit.
39. The single chip microcontroller unit of claim 37, wherein the enable circuit further comprises:
a voltage supply detector for determining when the supply voltage exceeds a voltage supply threshold and generating a first indication responsive thereto;
a band gap voltage detector for determining when the band gap voltage exceeds band gap voltage threshold and generating a second indication responsive thereto; and
control logic for an enable signal responsive to the first indication and the second indication.
40. The single chip microcontroller of claim 37, further wherein the reference threshold voltage is adjustable responsive to a plurality of bits provided by the control processor.
41. The single chip microcontroller of claim 37, wherein the supply monitoring circuit further comprises:
a second supply monitoring circuit for generating an indication when the supply voltage exceeds a higher threshold level; and
wherein the enable circuit further disables the second supply monitoring circuit until the band gap voltage stabilizes at start up.
42. The single chip microcontroller unit of claim 41, wherein the second supply monitoring circuit further comprises a disable circuit for disabling the supply monitoring circuit responsive to a disable control signal from the processing unit.
43. A single chip microcontroller unit, comprising:
a processing unit having normal power mode of operation and a low power mode of operation;
analog circuitry connected to the processing unit;
digital circuitry connected to the processing unit;
a power management unit controlling power operation of the processing unit, the analog circuitry and the digital circuitry; and
a supply monitoring circuit for determining if a chip supply voltage level exceeds a threshold level and generating a power control signal to the power management unit responsive thereto, wherein the supply monitoring circuit further comprises:
a first comparator circuit for comparing a band gap voltage to a reference threshold voltage; and
an enable circuit for disabling the first comparator circuit until the band gap voltage stabilizes at start up.
a disable circuit for disabling the supply monitoring circuit responsive to a disable control signal from the processing unit.
44. The single chip microcontroller unit of claim 43, wherein the enable circuit further comprises:
a voltage supply detector for determining when the supply voltage exceeds a voltage supply threshold and generating a first indication responsive thereto;
a band gap voltage detector for determining when the band gap voltage exceeds band gap voltage threshold and generating a second indication responsive thereto; and
control logic for an enable signal responsive to the first indication and the second indication.
45. The single chip microcontroller of claim 43, further wherein the reference threshold voltage is adjustable responsive to a plurality of bits provided by the control processor.
46. The single chip microcontroller of claim 43, wherein the supply monitoring circuit further comprises:
a second supply monitoring circuit for generating an indication when the supply voltage exceeds a higher threshold level; and
wherein the enable circuit further disables the second supply monitoring circuit until the band gap voltage stabilizes at start up.
47. The single chip microcontroller unit of claim 46, wherein the second supply monitoring circuit further comprises a disable circuit for disabling the supply monitoring circuit responsive to a disable control signal from the processing unit.
48. A single chip microcontroller unit, comprising:
a processing unit having normal power mode of operation and a low power mode of operation;
analog circuitry connected to the processing unit;
digital circuitry connected to the processing unit;
a power management unit controlling power operation of the processing unit, the analog circuitry and the digital circuitry; and
a supply monitoring circuit for determining if a chip supply voltage level exceeds a threshold level and generating a power control signal to the power management unit responsive thereto, wherein the supply monitoring circuit further comprises:
a first comparator circuit for comparing a band gap voltage to a reference threshold voltage; and
an enable circuit for disabling the first comparator circuit until the band gap voltage stabilizes at start up;
a disable circuit for disabling the supply monitoring circuit responsive to a disable control signal from the processing unit;
a second supply monitoring circuit for generating an indication when the supply voltage exceeds a higher threshold level; and
wherein the enable circuit further disables the second supply monitoring circuit until the band gap voltage stabilizes at start up.
49. The single chip microcontroller unit of claim 48, wherein the enable circuit further comprises:
a voltage supply detector for determining when the supply voltage exceeds a voltage supply threshold and generating a first indication responsive thereto;
a band gap voltage detector for determining when the band gap voltage exceeds band gap voltage threshold and generating a second indication responsive thereto; and
control logic for an enable signal responsive to the first indication and the second indication.
50. The single chip microcontroller of claim 48, further wherein the reference threshold voltage is adjustable responsive to a plurality of bits provided by the control processor.
51. The single chip microcontroller of claim 48, wherein the supply monitoring circuit further comprises:
a second supply monitoring circuit for generating an indication when the supply voltage exceeds a higher threshold level; and
wherein the enable circuit further disables the second supply monitoring circuit until the band gap voltage stabilizes at start up.
52. The single chip microcontroller unit of claim 51, wherein the second supply monitoring circuit further comprises a disable circuit for disabling the supply monitoring circuit responsive to a disable control signal from the processing unit.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A system for performing an implicit predicted return from a predicted subroutine in a processor, the system comprising:
a branch history tablebranch target buffer (BHTBTB) to hold branch information, wherein the branch information includes a target address of a predicted subroutine and a branch type;
instruction buffers to buffer fetched instructions; and
instruction fetch controls (IFC) for performing a method comprising:
fetching a branch instruction at a branch address and a return-point instruction at an address subsequent to the branch address;
receiving the target address of the predicted subroutine and the branch type associated with the branch address via the BHTBTB;
fetching a fixed number of instructions starting at the target address of the predicted subroutine in response to the branch type indicating that the predicted subroutine is a fixed-length subroutine; and
referencing the return-point instruction within the instruction buffers such that the return-point instruction is available upon completing the fetching of the fixed number of instructions absent a re-fetch of the return-point instruction: and
wherein the fixed-length subroutine is associated with only a single row in the BHTBTB.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the branch information further comprises a length field that specifies the fixed number of instructions as a number of instructions or as a number of bytes.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the branch type defines the fixed number of instructions.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the instruction buffers to send the fixed number of instructions to an instruction decode unit (IDU) between the instructions at the branch address and at the address subsequent to the branch address.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the IFC provides buffer controls to the instruction buffers.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein a standard subroutine is associated with at least two rows in the BHTBTB.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the BHTBTB is searched relative to the branch address to locate the target address of the predicted subroutine and the branch type.
8. A method for performing an implicit predicted return from a predicted subroutine in a processor, the method comprising:
fetching a branch instruction at a branch address and a return-point instruction at an address subsequent to the branch address;
searching a branch history tablebranch target buffer (BHTBTB) to locate the branch address, wherein the BHTBTB holds branch information including a target address of a predicted subroutine and a branch type;
fetching a fixed number of instructions starting at the target address of the predicted subroutine in response to the branch type indicating that the predicted subroutine is a fixed-length subroutine; and
referencing the return-point instruction such that the return-point instruction is available upon completing the fetching of the fixed number of instructions absent a re-fetch of the return-point instruction; and

wherein the fixed-length subroutine is associated with only a single row in the BHTBTB.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the branch information further comprises a length field that specifies the fixed number of instructions as a number of instructions or as a number of bytes.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the branch type defines the fixed number of instructions.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
sending the fixed number of instructions to an instruction decode unit (IDU) between the instructions at the branch address and at the address subsequent to the branch address.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein a standard subroutine is associated with at least two rows in the BHTBTB.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the fetching is performed by instruction fetch controls (IFC) and the instructions are buffered in instruction buffers.
14. A computer program product for performing an implicit predicted return from a predicted subroutine in a processor, the computer program product comprising:
a computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions including an implicit predicted return from a predicted subroutine, comprising a method of:
calling a fixed-length subroutine via a branch instruction at a branch address, wherein the fixed-length subroutine is predictively fetched as a predicted subroutine; and
returning to an address subsequent to the branch address absent a return branch instruction in the predicted subroutine upon predictively fetching a fixed number of instructions in the predicted subroutine; and
wherein the fixed-length subroutine is associated with only a single row in the BHTBTB.
15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein predictively fetching the fixed number of instructions further comprises:
searching a branch history tablebranch target buffer (BHTBTB) to locate the branch address, wherein the BHTBTB holds branch information including a target address of the predicted subroutine and a branch type; and
fetching the fixed number of instructions starting at the target address of the predicted subroutine in response to the branch type indicating that the predicted subroutine is of a fixed-length.
16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the branch information further comprises a length field that specifies the fixed number of instructions as a number of instructions or as a number of bytes.
17. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the branch type defines the fixed number of instructions.
18. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein a standard subroutine is associated with at least two rows in the BHTBTB.
19. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the fetching is performed by instruction fetch controls (IFC) and the instructions are buffered in instruction buffers.
20. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the fixed number of instructions are sent to an instruction decode unit (IDU) between the instructions at the branch address and at the address subsequent to the branch address.