Fault-tolerant clock gating
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRazvan Peter Figuli, Cedric Lichtenau, Stefan Payer, Michael Klein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes obtaining a trigger signal directed to a component in a subset of components of an electronic circuit, and activating a clock corresponding with the subset of components of the electronic circuit for a preliminary period in response to the trigger signal. An active period is determined based on the trigger signal. The clock remains active for the active period. One of a timer or counter is initiated for the active period. A limit is defined for the one of the timer or counter. The active period is dynamically extended for a busy period after the one of the timer or counter is initiated. The clock is deactivated following the active period.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- obtaining a trigger signal directed to a component in a subset of components of an electronic circuit;
- activating a clock corresponding with the subset of components of the electronic circuit for a preliminary period in response to the trigger signal;
- determining an active period based on the trigger signal, wherein the clock remains active for the active period;
- initiating one of a timer or counter for the active period, wherein a limit is defined for the one of the timer or counter;
- dynamically extending the active period for a busy period after the one of the timer or counter is initiated;
- and
- deactivating the clock following the active period.
A processor, comprising:
- a portion including a clock;
- a clock gate circuit configured to control activation of the clock, the clock gate circuit configured to set one of a timer or counter for a specified period to activate the clock for the specified period based on a trigger signal and to dynamically extend the specified period for a busy period, during tolling of the specified period, based on one or more conditions.
A clock gating circuit in a processor, comprising:
- a count and encode module configured to set one of a timer or counter for a specified period to activate the clock for the specified period based on a trigger signal;
- and
- a dynamic extension module configured to dynamically extend the specified period for a busy period, during tolling of the specified period, based on one or more conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.