Method and apparatus for control of power consumption in a computer system
First Claim
1. A computer system having a full-power mode and a low-power mode of operation comprising:
- a controller that generates an interrupt signal in response to a low power event or a fully operational event, the controller further generates a clock control signal, wherein the clock control signal is alternatively asserted for a first time duration and deasserted for a second time duration during the low-power mode of operation and the clock control signal is deasserted during the full-power mode of operation;
a processor coupled to the controller, wherein the processor suppresses an internal clock signal to at least one functional block within the processor in response to an asserted clock control signal and transmits the internal clock signal to the at least one functional block within the processor in response to a deasserted clock control signal; and
a communication device coupled to the processor, wherein the communication device periodically provides communication signals to the processor, and wherein the processor is responsive to the communication device during the low-power mode of operation when the interval between two consecutive communication signals is greater than the sum of the first time duration and the second time duration.
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Abstract
A computer system having a responsive low-power mode and a full-power mode of operation. The computer system includes a power consumption controller, a processor and a communication device. The power consumption controller generates an interrupt signal in response to a low power event or a fully operational event. The power consumption controller also generates a clock control signal. The clock control signal is deasserted during the full-power mode of operation and alternatively asserted for a first duration and deasserted for a second duration during the low-power mode of operation. In response to an asserted clock control signal, the processor suppresses the internal clock signal to at least one functional block within the processor and in response to a deasserted clock control signal, the processor transmits the internal clock signal to at least one functional block within the processor. By transmitting the internal clock signal to at least one functional block within the processor during the low-power mode of operation, the processor may respond to communication signals from a communication device during the low-power mode of operation.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer system having a full-power mode and a low-power mode of operation comprising:
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a controller that generates an interrupt signal in response to a low power event or a fully operational event, the controller further generates a clock control signal, wherein the clock control signal is alternatively asserted for a first time duration and deasserted for a second time duration during the low-power mode of operation and the clock control signal is deasserted during the full-power mode of operation; a processor coupled to the controller, wherein the processor suppresses an internal clock signal to at least one functional block within the processor in response to an asserted clock control signal and transmits the internal clock signal to the at least one functional block within the processor in response to a deasserted clock control signal; and a communication device coupled to the processor, wherein the communication device periodically provides communication signals to the processor, and wherein the processor is responsive to the communication device during the low-power mode of operation when the interval between two consecutive communication signals is greater than the sum of the first time duration and the second time duration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for controlling the power consumption of a computer system which includes a processor coupled to a communication device that periodically provides communication signals to the processor, the processor having a full-power mode and a low-power mode of operation, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) operating the processor in a full-power mode of operation; (b) storing a set of functional parameters which specify a low power event and a fully operational event; and (c) switching the processor from the high-power mode of operation to the low-power mode of operation in response the low power event by alternatively asserting for a first time duration and deasserting for a second time duration a clock control signal, wherein a clock signal coupled to at least one functional block within the processor is suppressed in response to an asserted clock control signal and transmitted in response to a deasserted clock control signal, wherein the processor remains responsive to communication signals during the low-power mode of operation when the interval between two consecutive communication signals is greater than the sum of the first time duration and the second time duration. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer system having a full-power mode and a low-power mode of operation comprising:
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a processor having a controller and at least one functional block, wherein the controller generates an interrupt signal in response to a low power event or a fully operational event, and further generates a clock control signal, wherein the clock control signal is alternatively asserted for a first time duration and deasserted for a second time duration during the low-power mode of operation and the clock control signal is deasserted during the full-power mode of operation, and further wherein at least one of the functional blocks receive an internal clock signal in response to a deasserted clock control signal; and a communication device coupled to the processor, wherein the communication device periodically provides communication signals to the processor, and the processor is responsive to the communication device during the low-power mode of operation when the interval between two consecutive communication signals is greater than the sum of the first time duration and the second time duration. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification