Power reduction for processors by software control of functional units
US6219796A · kind A · utility
103Cited by
10References
9Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 17, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D30/50
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of optimizing a computer program for reduced power consumption by a processor (10) having functional units (11d, 11e) that are independently controllable by instructions. The processor's instruction set (FIG. 4) has instructions that may be directed to a particular functional unit (11d, 11e) so as to place that functional unit in a power-down state while not being used during a program segment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.