| 摘要 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic control of power management circuitry in a microprocessor. A clock and power management subsystem within the microprocessor contains clock generation and control logic and a powered-down mode register. The register is controlled by register control logic in the microprocessor and determines the powered-down mode of the various hardware units that make up the microprocessor. The clock generation and control logic also receives a powered-down mode enable signal from each of the hardware units. The hardware unit receive a re-power-up signal which, when activated and deactivated, can cause the hardware units to de-activate and activate, respectively, the powered-down mode enable signal. This combination of features allows continuous, repetitive, dynamic, hardware-controlled entry into exit from power saving modes without software intervention, thereby allowing the power saving modes to be used more often and more effectively for shorter periods of time than would be possible with software controlled power management.
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