Power-efficient external memory access control using external memory enable time durations independent of external memory accessing rate

摘要

A processing system having a processor which accesses external memory for data and/or instructions includes an improved external memory access control system producing external memory enable time durations which are independent of the number of external memory accesses per unit of time, thereby reducing power consumption of the processing system. The control system includes a clock source for providing a clock signal which determines the external memory access rate. An enable duration control is coupled to the clock source and is arranged to enable the external memory for time durations during each memory access which are independent from the external memory access rate.