Clockless computer using a pulse generator that is triggered by an event other than a read or write instruction in place of a clock

In a computer, a method for causing said computer to temporarily reduce its power consumption, said method comprising:

• providing a computer including a memory, an instruction area, a processing unit for executing a plurality of instructions from said instruction area, and a pulse generator operative to provide a series of pulses for causing said computer to carry out its functions;
• causing said processing unit to advance from a presently executed instruction to a next instruction of said plurality of instructions only when said pulse generator is triggered into generating a pulse;
• and
• triggering said pulse generator to generate each said pulse only in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event;
• wherein
• said predetermined event occurs when said presently-executed instruction is other than a predetermined type of instruction;
• and further wherein
• said computer includes at least one communication port;
• and
• said predetermined type of instruction is one of a read instruction for causing said computer to read data from an outside entity via said communication port or a write instruction for causing said computer to write data to an outside entity via said communication port.

A computer comprising:

• a memory;
• an instruction area;
• a processing unit for executing a plurality of instructions from said instruction area;
• and
• a pulse generator operative to provide a series of pulses for causing said computer to carry out its functions;
• and wherein
• each of said pulses generated by said pulse generator causes said processing unit to advance from a presently executed instruction to a next instruction of said plurality of instructions;
• and
• said pulse generator is triggered to generate a next one of said pulses only in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event;
• wherein
• said predetermined event occurs when said presently-executed instruction is other than a predetermined type of instruction;
• and
• said computer includes at least one communication port;
• and
• said predetermined type of instruction is a read instruction for causing said computer to read data from an outside entity via said communication port.

A computer comprising:

• a memory;
• an instruction area;
• a processing unit for executing a plurality of instructions from said instruction area;
• and
• a pulse generator operative to provide a series of pulses for causing said computer to carry out its functions;
• and wherein
• each of said pulses generated by said pulse generator causes said processing unit to advance from a presently executed instruction to a next instruction of said plurality of instructions;
• and
• said pulse generator is triggered to generate a next one of said pulses only in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event;
• wherein
• said predetermined event occurs when said presently-executed instruction is other than a predetermined type of instruction;
• and said computer includes at least one communication port;
• and
• said predetermined type of instruction is a write instruction for causing said computer to write data to an outside entity via said communication port.

In a computer, a method for causing said computer to temporarily reduce its power consumption, said method comprising:

• providing a computer including a memory, an instruction area, a processing unit for executing a plurality of instructions from said instruction area, and a pulse generator operative to provide a series of pulses for causing said computer to carry out its functions;
• causing said processing unit to advance from a presently executed instruction to a next instruction of said plurality of instructions each time said pulse generator is triggered into generating a pulse;
• and
• triggering said pulse generator to generate each said pulse only in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event;
• wherein
• said predetermined event occurs when said presently-executed instruction is other than a predetermined type of instruction;
• and further wherein
• said computer includes at least one communication port;
• and
• said predetermined type of instruction is a read instruction for causing said computer to read data from an outside entity via said communication port.

In a computer, a method for causing said computer to temporarily reduce its power consumption, said method comprising:

• providing a computer including a memory, an instruction area, a processing unit for executing a plurality of instructions from said instruction area, and a pulse generator operative to provide a series of pulses for causing said computer to carry out its functions;
• causing said processing unit to advance from a presently executed instruction to a next instruction of said plurality of instructions each time said pulse generator is triggered into generating a pulse;
• and
• triggering said pulse generator to generate each said pulse only in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event;
• wherein
• said predetermined event occurs when said presently-executed instruction is other than a predetermined type of instruction;
• and further wherein
• said computer includes at least one communication port;
• and
• said predetermined type of instruction is a write instruction for causing said computer to write data to an outside entity via said communication port.