Patent · US Expired

Circuit for generating a low power CPU clock signal

US5638028A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
6References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 12, 1995
Grant dateJun 10, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 12, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03L7/18
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A circuit for generating a low power CPU clock signal is disclosed. The circuit includes a multi-frequency oscillator having a plurality of output signals of various frequencies that are input to a signal selector. The signal selector is controlled to route one of the various frequency signals to the output, which provides the CPU clock oscillating signal. The frequency of the CPU clock signal is compared against a reference oscillatory signal that is generated by a reference oscillator. Based upon the comparison, the frequency comparator generates an output signal that is used to control the signal selector to select an input signal of either higher or lower frequency, depending upon the comparison. Finally, an enable signal is provided for selectively enabling the operation of the CPU clock oscillating circuit.

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