Dynamic Clock and Power Gating with Decentralized Wake-Ups

摘要

A method and apparatus for dynamic clock and power gating and decentralized wakeups is disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) includes power-manageable functional units and a power management unit. Each of the power manageable functional units is configured to convey a request to enter a low power state to the power management unit. The power management unit may respond by causing a requesting functional unit to enter the low power state. Should another functional unit initiate a request to communicate with a functional unit currently in the low power state, it may send a request to that functional unit. The receiving functional unit may respond to the request by exiting the low power state and resuming operation in the active state.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a first functional unit of an integrated circuit (IC), the first functional unit being coupled to a communications link; a second functional unit of the IC, wherein the second functional unit is coupled to the communication link and configured to communicate with the first functional unit via the communication link; wherein the second functional unit is configured to enter a low power state, and wherein the first functional unit is configured to transmit a request to communicate with the second functional unit when the second functional unit is in the low power state, and wherein the second functional unit is configured to exit the low power state responsive to receiving the request from the first functional unit.