Data processing apparatus with clock signal control by microinstruction for reduced power consumption and method therefor
First Claim
1. In a data processing apparatus for carrying out data processing, including data processing means having logic circuits including C-MOS devices, memory means for storing at least one data processing program, clock signal generating means for generating a clock signal to be supplied to said data processing means including said logic circuits, and clock signal supplying means for controlling the supply of said clock signal to said data processing means including said logic circuits, said data processing program including a plurality of data processing instructions, said data processing means operating to successively read out said data processing instructions stored in said memory means to carry out various operations including data processing, said clock signal having a first potential level and a second potential level which is different from said first potential level, said first and second potential levels repeating in turn at a predetermined clock period,a method of controlling the supply of said clock signal to said data processing means including said logic circuits comprising the steps of:
- storing data processing instructions including at least one clock signal supply inhibit instruction in said memory means prior to carrying out data processing;
reading out each of said data processing instructions from said memory means;
decoding and identifying each of said data processing instructions read out of said memory means including said clock signal supply inhibit instruction; and
generating a clock signal supply stopping signal and supplying said clock signal supply stopping signal to said clock signal supplying means when any one of said data processing instructions is identified as the clock signal supply inhibit instruction to inhibit said clock signal from being supplied from said clock signal generating means to a predetermined part of said data processing means having logic circuits by maintaining the potential level of said clock signal supplied to said predetermined part at said first potential level or said second potential level, whereby power consumption in said logic circuit is reduced.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method of controlling the supply of a clock signal to a logic circuit, especially, a logic circuit composed of C-MOS gates for further reducing the power consumption. According to the control method, a clock signal supply inhibit instruction is stored, so that, when this instruction is read out, the supply of the clock signal to the logic circuit is inhibited, or its level is fixed at a specific signal level. In response to the application of an interrupt signal, the clock signal having been inhibited to be supplied to the logic circuit starts to be supplied to the logic circuit again. The circuit region or regions for which the supply of the clock signal is to be inhibited can be freely selected for the purpose of control. Thus, the method is especially effective when it is desired to closely control the saving of power consumed by the logic circuit.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. In a data processing apparatus for carrying out data processing, including data processing means having logic circuits including C-MOS devices, memory means for storing at least one data processing program, clock signal generating means for generating a clock signal to be supplied to said data processing means including said logic circuits, and clock signal supplying means for controlling the supply of said clock signal to said data processing means including said logic circuits, said data processing program including a plurality of data processing instructions, said data processing means operating to successively read out said data processing instructions stored in said memory means to carry out various operations including data processing, said clock signal having a first potential level and a second potential level which is different from said first potential level, said first and second potential levels repeating in turn at a predetermined clock period,
a method of controlling the supply of said clock signal to said data processing means including said logic circuits comprising the steps of: -
storing data processing instructions including at least one clock signal supply inhibit instruction in said memory means prior to carrying out data processing; reading out each of said data processing instructions from said memory means; decoding and identifying each of said data processing instructions read out of said memory means including said clock signal supply inhibit instruction; and generating a clock signal supply stopping signal and supplying said clock signal supply stopping signal to said clock signal supplying means when any one of said data processing instructions is identified as the clock signal supply inhibit instruction to inhibit said clock signal from being supplied from said clock signal generating means to a predetermined part of said data processing means having logic circuits by maintaining the potential level of said clock signal supplied to said predetermined part at said first potential level or said second potential level, whereby power consumption in said logic circuit is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method as claimed 1, wherein, when said clock supply inhibit instruction is read out, the clock period of said clock signal is made longer than said predetermined clock period and said clock signal of the longer clock period is continuted to be supplied.
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13. In a data processing apparatus including a processor, input/output devices whose operations are processed by said processor when interrupt request signals are issued from said input/output devices, wherein said processor includes a register file, an arithmetic circuit, an address register, an instruction register and a decoder, the improvement comprising:
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a clock signal generating circuit for generating clock signals, each of said clock signals having a first potential level and a second potential level which is different from said first potential level, said first and second potential levels repeating in turn at a predetermined clock period, said processor being connected to receive said clock signals from said clock signal generating circuit for carrying out data processing in synchronism with said clock signals; main memory means for storing instructions including clock signal supply inhibit instructions; and a clock signal supply control circuit connected to receive said clock signals from said clock signal generating circuit as input signals thereto for supplying said clock signals to said processor, said processor including means for reading said instructions including said clock signal supply inhibit instructions out of said main memory means, said decoder including means for decoding said instructions including said clock signal supply inhibit instructions read out of said memory means and for identifying each of said clock signal supply inhibit instructions to generate a clock signal supply stopping signal, and said clock signal supply control circuit including means for inhibiting said clock signals from being supplied to at least part of said processor in response to said clock signal supply stopping signal by maintaining the potential level of said clock signal supplied to said part of said processor at said first or second potential level when at least one of said instructions is identified as said clock signal supply inhibit instruction, and said clock signal supply control circuit including means for restarting the supply of said clock signal when said interrupt request signals are issued. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. In a data processing apparatus including a logic circuit composed of complementary metal oxide devices, said logic circuit including data processing means having at least a register file, an arithmetic circuit, an address register, an instruction register and a decoder, main memory means for storing programmed instructions to carry out data processing, clock signal generating means for generating a clock signal having a first potential level and a second potential level which is different from said first potential level, said first and second potential levels repeating alternately at a predetermined clock period, and clock signal supply control means for controlling said clock signal so as to supply or not to supply said clock signal to said logic circuit, said data processing apparatus successively reading out said instructions stored in said in main memory to carry out data processing;
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a method of controlling the supply of said clock signal to said logic circuit comprising the steps of; storing in said main memory means a clock signal supply inhibit instruction together with other data processing instructions; reading out said clock signal supply inhibit instruction and said other data processing instructions in a sequence from said main memory means to carry out data processing; decoding each of the instructions read out of said main memory means and identifying whether or not each of the instructions is said clock signal supply inhibit instruction; supplying a clock signal supply inhibit signal to said clock signal supply control means from said data processing means when a decoded instruction is identified as the clock signal supply inhibit instruction; when said decoded instruction is identified as not being the clock signal supply inhibit instruction, carrying out data processing corresponding to said decoded instruction; and when said decoded instruction is identified as being said clock signal supply inhibit instruction, inhibiting the supply of said clock signal from said clock signal generating means to said data processing means by means of said clock signal supply control means in response to said inhibit signal until an interrupt processing request signal is supplied to said clock signal supply control means, whereby power consumption in said logic circuit is reduced by inhibiting operation in said logic circuit. - View Dependent Claims (18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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19. A method as claimed in 18, further including the steps of:
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updating said identification code in said reference register in dependence upon the region to which the supply of said clock signal is to be inhibited, and inhibiting the supply of said clock signal to the region corresponding to the updated identification code when the updated identification code is read out.
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25. A data processing apparatus comprising:
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a logic circuit composed of complementary metal oxide devices, said logic circuit having data processor means including at least a register file, an arithmetic circuit, an address register, an instruction register and an instruction decoder; main memory means for storing program instructions to carry out data processing, including a clock signal supply inhibit instruction; clock signal generating means for generating a clock signal having a first potential level and a second potential level which is different from the first potential level, said said first and second potential levels repeating alternately at a predetermined clock period; clock signal supply control means for controlling said clock signal so as to supply or not supply said clock signal to said logic circuit; and said processor means operating in response to said clock signal to successively read out instructions stored in said main memory means to carry out data processing; wherein said clock signal supply control means comprises; a clock control circuit connected to receive as input signals thereto both a clock signal supply inhibit signal from said decoder and said clock signal from said clock signal generating means, said clock control circuit including means for synchronizing said clock signal supply inhibit signal with said clock signal, said clock signal supply inhibit signal being produced by said instruction decoder when the content of said instruction register which is read out of said main memory means is decoded and identified by said instruction decoder as said clock signal supply inhibit instruction; first clock gating means for inhibiting the supply of said clock signal in response to said synchronized clock signal supply inhibit signal; first flip-flop means for storing an interrupt signal at a predetermined timing; second clock gating means for synchronizing a received interrupt signal requesting interrupt processing with said clock signal to derive a timing signal for storing the synchronized interrupt signal in said first flip-flop means; and second flip-flop means for setting the timing for releasing the inhibiting of the supply of said clock signal in response to the output of said first flip-flop means. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification