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. 16, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 28, 2006
Sergio Schuler, Austin, TX (US);
Michael D. Snyder, Austin, TX (US);
Leick D. Robinson, Round Rock, TX (US);
David M. Thompson, Arlington, TX (US);
Sergio Schuler, Austin, TX (US);
Michael D. Snyder, Austin, TX (US);
Leick D. Robinson, Round Rock, TX (US);
David M. Thompson, Arlington, TX (US);
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
A processor has a fetch unit and a branch execution unit. The fetch unit has a branch predictor. The branch predictor has a branch target buffer and a branch direction predictor. A wake value is a number of instruction fetches that is predicted to be performed after a fetch of a branch. Thus, for a first branch, for example, a first wake number is predicted. A low power mode of the branch predictor is enabled for a duration of the first wake value in response to hit in the branch target buffer in which the hit is in response to the first branch.