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:
Mar. 24, 2009
Filed:
May. 06, 2008
Harry S. Barowski, Boeblingen, DE;
Tobias Gemmeke, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Jens Leenstra, Bondorf, DE;
Tim Niggemeier, Laatzen, DE;
Harry S. Barowski, Boeblingen, DE;
Tobias Gemmeke, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Jens Leenstra, Bondorf, DE;
Tim Niggemeier, Laatzen, DE;
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A method for reducing leakage current within a register file of a processor is disclosed. The register file within the processor is partitioned into at least two power domains, and each of the two power domains can be powered independently. At least one of the two power domains includes at least as many physical registers as there are architected registers defined in an instruction set architecture of the processor. In response to an occurrence of an idle condition within the processor, all architected register file entries are consolidated into one of power domains that will not be powered off, and the power domains that does not contain any architected register file entries after consolidating are powered off. Afterwards, in response to a detection of an end of the idle condition, all of the power domains are powered back on.