Dynamic control of power consumption in self-timed circuits
US5737614A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 27, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 7, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 27, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/32
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method are provided which automatically change the rate of data transfer between stages of control logic connected in a pipelined fashion, based upon a control signal generated by a sensor which determines the power consumption of the integrated circuit. Delay circuits are disposed intermediate of each stage in the pipeline and receive an input from the sensor which is connected to the delay circuits. The data input to the next subsequent stage from the previous stage in the pipeline is gated based on the state of the delay circuitry. That is, when the sensor determines that a high power condition exists, the delay circuitry is enabled such that the data transfer between stages in the pipeline slows down. However, when the sensor determines that the power consumption situation is at an acceptable level, the delay circuitry is disabled such that data can then be transferred between stages in the pipeline at a high frequency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.