Process and apparatus for reducing power usage in microprocessor devices according to the type of activity performed by the microprocessor

Abstract

A process and apparatus for preparing the process for reducing the power consumption of microprocessor-based devices by reducing the frequency of the oscillator governing the logical operation of the microprocessor during periods of use in which system performance is not critical. In one embodiment of the apparatus, the microprocessor is controlled by a monitor circuit operable with the microprocessor and operated by the variable frequency oscillator. In another embodiment a hardware monitor circuit is utilized and which tracks microprocessor instructions to determine periods of use when performance is not critical. The shift in oscillator speed is mediated by a flip-flop latch circuit connected between one or more clock oscillators and the oscillator input of the controlled microprocessor.

1 . A process for automatically reducing the power usage of a microprocessor comprising the steps of: 
 continuously generating monitor interrupt signals for monitoring the operations of the microprocessor at predetermined intervals of time,    searching within an instruction stream of the microprocessor for a plurality of instructions execuced by the microprocessor upon the occurrence each of said monitor interrupt signals by means of a monitoring circuit,    comparing said plurality of searched instructions with a predefined list of instructions stored in memory comprising wired connections to determine when at least one of said searched instructions constitutes a predefined instruction,    supplying at least a first operation frequency to said microprocessor upon the occurrence of said predefined instruction, and a reduced second operation frequency to said microprocessor upon the non-occurrence of said predefined instruction, wherein the power usage of said microprocessor is reduced according to the occurrence or non-occurrence of said predefined instruction by reduction of the operation frequency supplied to said microprocessor.    
   
   
       2 . A process as in  claim 1  wherein said comparing is performed by wired logic.  
   
   
       3 . A process as in  claim 2  wherein the result of said comparing is stored for later usage by the microprocessor.  
   
   
       4 . A process for automatically reducing the power usage of a microprocessor comprising: 
 designating certain portions of the code being executed by the microprocessor as critical code,    providing for operating the microprocessor at two or more different clock frequencies,    periodically interrupting the microprocessor,    determining whether the microprocessor was executing any of the said critical code in the interval prior to the interrupt,    selecting said microprocessor clock frequency such that the microprocessor is set to operate at a higher frequency when the microprocessor was executing any of said critical code in the interval prior to the interrupt, and at a lower frequency when the microprocessor was not executing any of said critical code in the interval prior to the interrupt.    
   
   
       5 . A system containing a microprocessor comprising: 
 a clock frequency source capable of providing one of two or more frequencies to the microprocessor,    an interrupt service routine,    a circuit which periodically interrupts the microprocessor causing the microprocessor to execute said interrupt service routine,    a set of predefined instructions,    a predetermined range of time values,    said interrupt service routine determining whether said microprocessor had executed any of said predefined instructions within said predetermined range of time values prior to the interrupt,    said interrupt service routine also providing for selection of one of said clock frequencies.    
   
   
       6 . A system as in  claim 5  wherein monitor hardware provides information about the execution of predetermined instructions to said interrupt service routine.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for reducing the power usage of a microprocessor based system comprising: 
 a clock generating means capable of providing at least two different operating frequencies to the microprocessor,    a clock frequency switching means capable of selecting one of the said operating frequencies,    a sampling means for generating information about the type of instructions being executed by the microprocessor,    a decision means processing said information and providing a control signal to said clock frequency switching means.    
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for reducing the power usage of a microprocessor based system comprising: 
 a monitoring means for automatically monitoring the type of instructions being executed by said microprocessor and generating one or more logic outputs indicating the type of instructions being executed,    a clock frequency selection means,    a decision means utilizing said one or more logic outputs and generating control signals to control said clock frequency selection means.    
   
   
       9 . An apparatus as in  claim 8  wherein said monitoring means includes wired logic external to the said microprocessor.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as in  claim 8  wherein said monitoring means determines system activity caused by instructions executed by said microprocessor, and wherein one or more logic outputs are generated indicative of the nature of the system activity caused by the instructions being executed.