Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption

US6718473B1 · kind B1 · utility

15Cited by
7References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 26, 2000
Grant dateApr 6, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 25, 2022

Classification

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

Abstract

In one aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling the operation of a phase locked loop circuit is provided. The method is comprised of monitoring a frequency of a system clock, and a first signal is delivered in response to the detected frequency of the system clock being greater than a preselected setpoint. A second signal is delivered in response to the detected frequency of the system clock being less than a preselected setpoint. A first operating mode of the phase locked loop circuit is selected in response to receiving the first signal. The first mode of operation allows the phase locked loop circuit to synchronize with a clock signal in a first preselected range of frequencies. A second operating mode of the phase locked loop circuit is selected in response to receiving the second signal. The second mode of operation allows the phase locked loop circuit to synchronize with a clock signal in a second preselected range of frequencies.

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