Patent · US Expired

Processor having a frequency modulated core clock based on the criticality of program activity

US5815693A · kind A · utility

76Cited by
3References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 15, 1995
Grant dateSep 29, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 15, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A processing system includes a clock synchromesh that receives indicia of critical activity from various functional units within the processing system and responsive to the indicia, ratchets down/up the frequency of a clock output signal to at least one of the functional units to reduce power consumption. The determination of critical activity is preferably made according to a heuristic internal to a processor under software or hardware control.

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