The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 25, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 28, 1997
Masato Suzuki, Toyonaka, JP;
Toru Morikawa, Suita, JP;
Nobuo Higaki, Osaka, JP;
Shinya Miyaji, Hirakata, JP;
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A data processor comprises a processing unit which processes an instruction in pipeline stages, the number of which is switchable between n and m, m being a larger number than n. The data processor also comprises a switching unit for switching the number of the pipeline stages of the processing unit between n and m. The switching unit comprises an indicating unit for indicating whether the data processor is in a first operating condition or in a second operating condition, depending either on the frequency of the operation clock provided for the data processor or on the power source voltage supplied to the data processor, and a pipeline control unit for ordering a processing unit to operate in n stages under the first operation condition, and for ordering the processing unit to operate in m stages under the second operating condition.