US6021500A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Processor with sleep and deep sleep modes
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1997-05-07
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Granted: 2000-02-01
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Expires: 2017-05-07
Abstract
Abstract A processor has a clock generator circuit, a sleep pin that receives an external sleep signal, and a first interface circuit coupled to the clock generator circuit and the sleep pin. The clock generator circuit generates a core clock signal and a bus clock signal in response to an external clock signal. When the external sleep signal is asserted, the processor enters a sleep state when the core clock signal and the bus clock signal are in a first predetermined relationship with each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsan-Kuen Wang
- 👤 Samson X. Huang
- 👤 Mustafiz R. Choudhury
- 👤 Edward T. Grochowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A processor comprising: a clock generator circuit to generate a core clock signal and a bus clock signal in response to an external clock signal; a first input coupled to receive a first power down signal; and a first interface circuit coupled to the clock generator circuit and the first input, wherein the processor enters a first power down state when the core clock signal and the bus clock signal are out of phase with each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A processor comprising: a clock generator circuit to generate a core clock signal and a bus clock signal in response to an external clock signal; a first input coupled to receive a first power down signal; and a first interface circuit coupled to the clock generator circuit and the first input, wherein the processor enters a first power down state when the core clock signal and the bus clock signal are out of phase with each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The processor of claim 1, wherein when the first power down signal is deasserted, the processor exits the first power down state when the core clock signal and the bus clock signal are out of phase with each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The processor of claim 1, wherein the clock generator circuit includes a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The processor of claim 3, wherein the PLL is disabled when a second power down signal is asserted and the external clock signal is disabled, and wherein the PLL circuit is restarted when the external clock signal is asserted and the second power down signal is deasserted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The processor of claim 1, further comprising a second input coupled to the first interface circuit and coupled to receive a second power down signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
(Twice Amended) The processor of claim 5, wherein when the first power down signal is asserted and the second power down signal is deasserted, the processor enters the first power down state and draws a first amount of power, and when the second power down signal is asserted and the first power down signal is asserted, the processor enters a second power down state and draws a second amount of power that is less than the first amount of power.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The processor of claim 6, wherein when the second power down signal is asserted, the first power down signal is asserted, and the external clock signal is disabled, the processor enters a a third power down state and draws a third amount of power that is less than the second amount of power.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The processor of claim 6, wherein the clock generator circuit further generates a first clock signal, a second clock signal, and a third clock signal, wherein the first interface circuit is coupled to receive the first clock signal, and wherein the processor further comprises: core circuitry coupled to receive the second clock signal; and a second interface coupled to receive the third clock signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The processor of claim 8, wherein when the first power down signal is asserted, the second clock signal is disabled, when the second power down signal is asserted, the third clock signal is disabled, and when the external clock signal is disabled, the first clock signal is disabled.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
The processor of claim 8, wherein the first interface circuit comprises a sleep circuit configured to assert an internal sleep signal when the first and second power down signals are asserted, and wherein the clock generator circuit comprises: a clocking circuit to generate the core clock signal and the bus clock signal; and logic coupled to generate a clock enable signal in response to the bus clock signal, the core clock signals, and the internal sleep signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The processor of claim 10, wherein the first interface circuit further comprises a bus clock generation circuit coupled to receive the first clock signal and a plurality of bus enable signals from the clocking circuit, the bus clock generation circuit to provide a feedback bus clock signal to the clocking circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The processor of claim 11, wherein the feedback bus clock signal has one pulse for every N core clock signals, wherein N is an integer at least equal to 2.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The processor of claim 11, wherein the feedback bus clock signal has two pulses for every N core clock signals, wherein N is an integer at least equal to three.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The processor of claim 10, wherein the logic generates a clock align signal when the clock enable signal is deasserted, wherein the clock align signal causes the clocking circuit to phase shift the core clock signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The processor of claim 10, wherein when the clock enable signal is asserted the third clock signal is enabled, and when the clock enable signal is deasserted the third clock signal is disabled.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The processor of claim 15, further comprising a NAND gate coupled to receive the core clock signal and the clock enable signal and to generate the third clock signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The processor of claim 16, wherein the logic further generates the clock enable signal when the bus clock and core clock are out of phase with each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
A processor comprising: means for generating a core clock signal and a bus clock signal in response to an external clock signal; and means for receiving an external sleep signal, wherein when the external sleep signal is asserted the processor enters a sleep state when the core clock signal and the bus clock signal are out of phase with each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
A processor comprising: means for generating a core clock signal and a bus clock signal in response to an external clock signal; and means for receiving an external sleep signal, wherein when the external sleep signal is asserted the processor enters a sleep state when the core clock signal and the bus clock signal are out of phase with each other.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of powering down an integrated circuit having a clock generator circuit that receives an external clock signal and generates a core clock signal and a bus clock signal, the method comprising the steps of: entering a first power down mode in response to receiving a first power down signal; and entering a second power down mode in response to receiving a second power down signal, wherein the integrated circuit enters the second power down mode when the core clock signal and the bus clock signal are out of phase with each other.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of powering down an integrated circuit having a clock generator circuit that receives an external clock signal and generates a core clock signal and a bus clock signal, the method comprising the steps of: entering a first power down mode in response to receiving a first power down signal; and entering a second power down mode in response to receiving a second power down signal, wherein the integrated circuit enters the second power down mode when the core clock signal and the bus clock signal are out of phase with each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
140 words
A processor comprising: a clock circuit to generate a core clock signal and a bus clock signal in response to an external clock signal; a first input to receive a first power down signal, wherein the processor enters a first power down state in response to the first signal; a second input to receive a second signal; an interface circuit, coupled to the clock circuit and the first and second inputs, to generate a sleep signal in response to the first and second power down signals; and a logic circuit, coupled to the clock circuit, to enable the processor to enter a second power down state in response to the sleep signal, the core clock signal, and the bus clock signal, wherein the processor draws less power in the second power down state than in the first power down state.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
140 words
A processor comprising: a clock circuit to generate a core clock signal and a bus clock signal in response to an external clock signal; a first input to receive a first power down signal, wherein the processor enters a first power down state in response to the first signal; a second input to receive a second signal; an interface circuit, coupled to the clock circuit and the first and second inputs, to generate a sleep signal in response to the first and second power down signals; and a logic circuit, coupled to the clock circuit, to enable the processor to enter a second power down state in response to the sleep signal, the core clock signal, and the bus clock signal, wherein the processor draws less power in the second power down state than in the first power down state.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-31 | 2003-08-02 | 2004-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-31 | 2007-08-02 | 2008-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-31 | 2011-08-02 | 2012-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |