SYSTEM HAVING PLURALITY OF HARDWARE BLOCKS AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME

摘要

A system having a plurality of hardware blocks and a method of operating that system where power to each hardware block is independently controlled according to whether or not the respective hardware block is needed for use. A counter is provided in the respective device driver of each hardware block, the counter being configured to be incremented each time a task requests use of the respective hardware block and to be decremented each time a task ceases use of the respective hardware block. The value of the counter is used to control whether or not to power up or power down the respective hardware block.