# US 2008/0313478 A1 · Mechanism to gate clock trunk and shut down clock source > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0313478 A1 - Document ID: US20080313478A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/763,635 - Filed: 2007-06-15 - Published: 2008-12-18 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-15 - Inventors: Wong Kar Leong; Mikal Hunsaker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080313478A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/10: Distribution of clock signals {, e.g. skew} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An apparatus, method, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a clock source unit that generates a clock signal, multiple clock trunk lines that supply the clock signal to multiple devices, and a clock control unit that instructs the clock source unit that can gate or supply the clock signal on the clock trunk lines. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a clock source unit to generate a clock signal; a plurality of clock trunk lines coupled to the clock source unit, each clock trunk line to supply the clock signal to one of a plurality of devices; and a clock control unit to instruct the clock source unit to gate or supply the clock signal on each of the plurality of clock trunk lines. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clock control unit is further operable to: receive instruction from a first device of the plurality of devices whether the first device requires the supplied clock signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the clock control unit is further operable to: instruct the clock source unit to gate the clock signal on the trunk line supplying the first device when the first device instructs the clock control unit that it does not require the clock signal; and instruct the clock source unit to supply the clock signal on the trunk line supplying the first device when the first device instructs the clock control unit that it requires the clock signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: the clock control unit to instruct the clock source unit to shutdown the generation of the clock signal when all of the plurality of the clock trunk lines are gated; and the clock source unit to shutdown the generation of the clock signal when instructed by the clock control unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: the clock control unit to instruct the clock source unit to initiate a wake up procedure to begin generation of the clock signal when at least one clock trunk line is not gated, if the clock source unit currently is not generating the clock signal; and the clock source unit to initiate the wake up procedure to begin generation of the clock signal when instructed. ### Claim 6 A method, comprising: generating a clock signal; supplying a clock signal to a plurality of devices, wherein each of the plurality of devices is supplied the clock signal on a clock trunk line; gating the clock signal on the clock trunk line to each device that does not require the clock signal; and supplying the clock signal on the clock trunk line to each device that does require the clock signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: receiving instruction from a first device of the plurality of devices whether the first device requires the supplied clock signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: shutting down the generation of the clock signal when all of the plurality of the clock trunk lines are gated. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: initiating a wake up procedure to begin generation of the clock signal when at least one clock trunk line is not gated, if the clock signal is not currently being generated. ### Claim 10 A system, comprising: a clock source unit to generate a clock signal; a first device; a first clock trunk line coupled to the clock source unit to supply the clock signal to the first device; a clock control unit to instruct the clock source unit to gate or supply the clock signal on the first clock trunk line. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the clock control unit is further operable to: receive instructions from the first device whether the first device requires the supplied clock signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the clock control unit is further operable to: instruct the clock source unit to gate the clock signal on the trunk line supplying the first device when the first device instructs the clock control unit that it does not require the clock signal; and instruct the clock source unit to supply the clock signal on the trunk line supplying the first device when the first device instructs the clock control unit that it requires the clock signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising: the clock control unit to instruct the clock source unit to shutdown the generation of the clock signal when all of the plurality of the clock trunk lines are gated; and the clock source unit to shutdown the generation of the clock signal when instructed by the clock control unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising: the clock control unit to instruct the clock source unit to initiate a wake up procedure to begin generation of the clock signal when at least one clock trunk line is not gated, if the clock source unit currently is not generating the clock signal; and the clock source unit to initiate the wake up procedure to begin generation of the clock signal when instructed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising: the clock source unit to supply the clock signal to first device and to gate the clock signal to the second device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising: the clock source unit to supply the clock signal to the second device and to gate the clock signal to the first device.