Patent · US Expired

Power consumption control system

US5637932A · kind A · utility

43Cited by
3References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 5, 1995
Grant dateJun 10, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 5, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D30/50
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A power consumption control apparatus for an information processing apparatus having multi-tasking control which executes a plurality of information processing operations in parallel by time-divisionally switching a plurality of tasks in an arithmetic processing unit. The power consumption controlled apparatus detects an event where there are no information processing operations to be executed, sets the arithmetic processing unit to a power-saving mode in response to the event and immediately clears the power-saving mode set in the arithmetic processing unit in response to an interrupt signal from an input/output device. Alternatively, the power consumption control apparatus after detecting the event stops supply of a clock to the arithmetic processing unit or lowers a frequency of the clock in response to the event. Thereafter, the power consumption control apparatus immediately resumes supply of the clock to the arithmetic processing unit or raises the frequency of the clock in response to an interrupt signal from an input/output device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.