non-SVP mode uses the extended format (see main VBLOCK spec [[vblock_format]])
-When P48 Mode is enabled (0b01), the P48 prefix follows the VBLOCK header
+When P48 Mode is enabled (0b01), the P48 prefix follows the VBLOCK header, and an additional itype may be applied to the src operand(s).
-| 15:11 | 10:0 |
-| - | ---------- |
-| rsvd | P48-Prefix |
+| 15:13 | 12:11 | 10:0 |
+| - | - | ---------- |
+| rsvd | itype | P48-Prefix |
When P64 Mode is enabled (0b10), the P64 prefix also follows:
VL/MVL from a P64 prefix is applied as if a [[specification/sv.setvl]] instruction had been executed as a hidden (first, implicit) instruction in the VBLOCK. This *includes* modification of SV CSR STATE.
+itype is described in [[sv_prefix_ptoposal]]. The additional itype on the src operand(s) allows, for example, a LD of 8 bit vectors to be auto-converted to 16 bit signed in a single instruction. More examples on elwidth polymorphism is in the [[appendix]].
+
# Rules
* SVP-VBLOCK is read (48/64), and indicates that certain registers are