Patent · US Expired

Hierarchical clock gating circuit and method

US6844767B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
3References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 18, 2003
Grant dateJan 18, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 18, 2023

Classification

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

Abstract

A power saving hierarchical clock gating circuit includes a first level clock gate, a plurality of second level clock gates connected to the first level clock gate, and a plurality of third level clock gates for selectively providing a clock signal to a functional block. Each third level clock gate is connected between a second level clock gate and a register, or other low level device, of the functional block for selectively providing the clock signal to the register. Accordingly, the clock signal is conveyed from the first level clock gate through a second level and a third level clock gate to a register when the corresponding first, second, and third level clock gates are activated by associated decision logic.

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