Patent US6118306A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6118306A
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Changing clock frequency
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1999-04-30
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Granted: 2000-09-12
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Expires: 2019-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A system includes a component (e.g., a processor) that includes a clock generator that generates an internal clock running at a frequency. A controller generates a clock frequency change indication and places the component into a low activity state (e.g., deep sleep, stop grant, or other state). The clock generator is reset by the clock frequency change indication to change the clock's frequency while the component is in the low activity state. Storage elements containing different values are selectable to set the clock frequency. The storage elements include fuse banks and input pins.
Inventors
- 👤 John T. Orton
- 👤 Cau L. Nguyen
- 👤 Gurbir Singh
- 👤 Xia Dai
- 👤 Raviprakash Nagaraj
- 👤 II Edwin J. Pole
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3234; G06F1/324; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/30; G01R31/3016; G06F1/3296; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A system comprising: a component receiving a reference clock and including a clock generator to generate an internal clock running at a first frequency; and a controller to generate a clock frequency change indication and to place the component into a low activity state, the clock generator having a setting changed in response to the clock frequency change indication to change the frequency of the internal clock to a second frequency while the component is in the low activity state, the clock generator at a first setting providing the internal clock at the first frequency based on the reference clock, and the clock generator at a second setting providing the internal clock at the second frequency based on the same reference clock.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A system comprising: a component receiving a reference clock and including a clock generator to generate an internal clock running at a first frequency; and a controller to generate a clock frequency change indication and to place the component into a low activity state, the clock generator having a setting changed in response to the clock frequency change indication to change the frequency of the internal clock to a second frequency while the component is in the low activity state, the clock generator at a first setting providing the internal clock at the first frequency based on the reference clock, and the clock generator at a second setting providing the internal clock at the second frequency based on the same reference clock.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the component further includes a circuit to receive the clock frequency change indication and to change the clock generator setting in response.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 2, wherein the circuit changes the clock generator setting also in response to the clock frequency change indication while the component is in reset.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the low activity state includes a stop grant state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the low activity state includes a state in which the internal clock is disabled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the low activity state includes the C3 state of an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface Specification.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the low activity state includes a deep sleep state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the component includes internal storage elements that maintain their settings while in the low activity state.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the component further includes multiple fuse banks to provide different values representing corresponding clock frequencies.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the component further includes a selection circuit controllable by a signal from the controller to select one of the fuse bank values.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 10, wherein the component includes circuitry to sample the signal while the component is in the low activity state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the clock frequency change indication includes the controller signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the component further includes at least two sets of input pins to provide different values representing corresponding clock frequencies.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the component further includes at least one fuse bank and a set of input pins to provide different values representing corresponding clock frequencies.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 14, wherein the component further includes a selection circuit controllable by the controller to select the fuse bank or the set of input pins.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 15, the controller being able to write a value to the set of input pins.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the component further includes a set of input pins driven to a specific value to represent a target clock frequency.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 17, wherein the component further includes a register controllable to receive the specific value during the low activity state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the register is adapted to latch the specific value during normal operation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the register is further controllable to receive the specific value during component reset.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
80 words
A device comprising: an input pin; a clock generator receiving a first clock to generate an internal clock having a first frequency; a receiving circuit to sample a state of the input pin in response to a low activity state of the device, the clock generator to adjust the clock frequency to a second frequency based on the sampled state of the input pin, the internal clock at either the first or second frequency being based on the first clock.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
80 words
A device comprising: an input pin; a clock generator receiving a first clock to generate an internal clock having a first frequency; a receiving circuit to sample a state of the input pin in response to a low activity state of the device, the clock generator to adjust the clock frequency to a second frequency based on the sampled state of the input pin, the internal clock at either the first or second frequency being based on the first clock.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 21, further comprising at least an additional input pin sampled by the receiving circuit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 21, further comprising storage elements containing different values selectable by the receiving circuit to control the internal clock frequency.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 23, further comprising a selection circuit controllable to select one of the values from the storage elements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 24, wherein the storage elements include a set of input pins that are adapted to receive input signals.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 24, wherein the storage elements include a set of one or more fuses programmable to provide a value.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of changing a frequency of a clock in a component, the clock being based on a reference clock received by the component, comprising: generating a clock frequency change indication; placing the component into a low activity state; resetting an internal clock generator to adjust an internal clock frequency while the component is in the low activity state in response to the clock frequency change indication; and providing the internal clock based on the reference clock at a new frequency.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of changing a frequency of a clock in a component, the clock being based on a reference clock received by the component, comprising: generating a clock frequency change indication; placing the component into a low activity state; resetting an internal clock generator to adjust an internal clock frequency while the component is in the low activity state in response to the clock frequency change indication; and providing the internal clock based on the reference clock at a new frequency.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 27, further comprising selecting one of multiple values to reset the clock frequency.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the selecting includes routing a value from one of multiple storage elements.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the selecting includes loading a value from one or more input pins of the component.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
82 words
A component comprising: an input for a reference clock; a clock generator responsive to the reference clock to produce an internal clock, the clock generator capable of changing a frequency of the internal clock while in a low activity state; a first element having a first value; a second element having a second value; and the internal clock frequency that is based on the reference clock being dependent on which of the first and second values is received by the clock generator.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
82 words
A component comprising: an input for a reference clock; a clock generator responsive to the reference clock to produce an internal clock, the clock generator capable of changing a frequency of the internal clock while in a low activity state; a first element having a first value; a second element having a second value; and the internal clock frequency that is based on the reference clock being dependent on which of the first and second values is received by the clock generator.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The component of claim 31, further comprising at least one other element having another value.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The component of claim 31, wherein at least one of the first and second elements includes a fuse bank.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The component of claim 31, wherein at least one of the first and second elements includes a set of one or more input pins.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
69 words
The component comprising: an input for a reference clock; a clock generator responsive to the reference clock to produce an internal clock, the clock generator capable of changing a frequency of the internal clock while in a low activity state; and an element programmable to one of plural values, the internal clock having plural frequencies based on the reference clock corresponding to the plural programmable values of the element.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
69 words
The component comprising: an input for a reference clock; a clock generator responsive to the reference clock to produce an internal clock, the clock generator capable of changing a frequency of the internal clock while in a low activity state; and an element programmable to one of plural values, the internal clock having plural frequencies based on the reference clock corresponding to the plural programmable values of the element.
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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) | 2003-09-12 | 2004-03-13 | 2004-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-12 | 2008-03-13 | 2008-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-12 | 2012-03-13 | 2012-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |