Processor powerdown operation using intermittent bursts of instruction clock

Apparatus for reducing power utilization of a processing unit, comprising:

• means for receiving a master clock signal;
• means for evaluating an instruction cycle burst length with respect to a counter value based on said master clock signal;
• means for allowing said processing unit to execute instructions in response to said counter value being less than said instruction cycle burst length;
• and
• means for disallowing said processing unit to execute instructions in response to said counter value being greater than said instruction cycle burst length.

An instruction cycle control unit comprising:

• storage for a burst length value;
• a counter;
• a comparator adapted to compare said burst length value with a value of said counter;
• and
• a clock controller to control an output of an instruction clock based on said comparison of said burst length value with said value of said counter.

A method of reducing power utilization of a processing unit, comprising:

• receiving a master clock signal;
• evaluating an instruction cycle burst length with respect to a counter value based on said master clock signal;
• allowing said processing unit to execute instructions in response to said counter value being greater than said instruction cycle burst length;
• and
• disallowing said processing unit to execute instructions in response to said counter value being less than said instruction cycle burst length.

Apparatus for reducing power utilization of a processing unit, comprising:

• means for receiving a master clock signal;
• means for evaluating an instruction cycle burst length with respect to a counter value based on said master clock signal;
• means for allowing said processing unit to execute instructions in response to said counter value being greater than said instruction cycle burst length;
• and
• means for disallowing said processing unit to execute instructions in response to said counter value being, less than said instruction cycle burst length.