Claims
- 1. A semiconductor device comprising:
- a central processing unit having a clock input;
- a clock generator of clock pulses;
- a logic circuit having an output to supply a clock control signal wherein said logic circuit is responsive to a mask clock signal, a suspend signal, a resume signal, and interrupt signal, and a software controllable enabling signal to generate said clock control signal based on one or more of said mask clock signal, said suspend signal, said resume signal, said interrupt signal, and said software controllable enabling signal; and
- a clock gate coupled to said clock pulses and having a clock gate output coupled to said clock input of said central processing unit, said clock gate responsive to said clock control signal to prevent said clock pulses from reaching said central processing unit within one clock cycle of a change in said clock control signal.
- 2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clock generator comprises an oscillator and a phase lock loop, said phase lock loop having an output for said clock pulses.
- 3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said central processing unit, said clock generator, said logic circuit, and said clock gate are fabricated on a single integrated circuit.
- 4. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said integrated circuit has a first terminal for external connection from an output of said oscillator, and a second terminal coupled to an input of said phase lock loop, said output of said oscillator and said input of said phase lock loop being electrically separated unless said first and second terminals are externally coupled off-chip.
- 5. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said integrated circuit has a first terminal for external connection from an output of said oscillator, and a second logic circuit coupled between said output of said oscillator and said first terminal.
- 6. The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said logic circuit has a second output for a second clock control signal coupled to control said second logic circuit.
- 7. The device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said oscillator comprises a clock divider and a clock-divide output, and said second logic circuit comprises buffers for said oscillator output and said clock-divide output, wherein said second clock control signal is coupled to control said buffers in said second logic circuit concurrently.
- 8. The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said integrated circuit has a second terminal coupled to an input of said phase lock loop, said output of said oscillator and said input of said phase lock loop being electrically separated unless said first and second terminals are externally coupled off-chip.
- 9. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an input to said logic circuit is software generated.
- 10. A personal computer comprising:
- an input device;
- a memory;
- a display; and
- a microprocessor coupled to said input device, said memory, and said display, said microprocessor comprising:
- a central processing unit having a clock input;
- a clock generator of clock pulses;
- a logic circuit having an output to supply a clock control signal wherein said logic circuit is responsive to a mask clock signal, a suspend signal, a resume signal, an interrupt signal, and a software controllable enabling signal to generate said clock control signal based on one or more of said mask clock signal, said suspend signal, said resume signal, said interrupt signal, and said software controllable enabling signal; and
- a clock gate coupled to said clock pulses and having a clock gate output coupled to said clock input of said central processing unit, said clock gate responsive to said clock control signal to prevent said clock pulses from reaching said central processing unit within one clock cycle of a change in said clock control signal.
- 11. The personal computer as claimed in claim 10 wherein said central processing unit, said clock generator, said logic circuit, and said clock gate are fabricated on a single integrated circuit.
- 12. The personal computer as claimed in claim 10 wherein said clock generator comprises an oscillator and a phase lock loop, said phase lock loop having an output for said clock pulses.
- 13. The personal computer as claimed in claim 12 wherein said integrated circuit has a first terminal for external connection from an output of said oscillator, and a second terminal coupled to an input of said phase lock loop, said output of said oscillator and said input of said phase lock loop being electrically separated unless said first and second terminals are externally coupled off-chip.
- 14. The personal computer as claimed in claim 12 wherein said integrated circuit has a first terminal for external connection from an output of said oscillator, and a second logic circuit coupled between said output of said oscillator and said first terminal.
- 15. The personal computer as claimed in claim 14 wherein said logic circuit has a second output for a second clock control signal coupled to control said second logic circuit.
- 16. The personal computer as claimed in claim 15 wherein said oscillator comprises a clock divider and a clock-divide output, and said second logic circuit comprises buffers for said oscillator output and said clock-divide output, wherein said second clock control signal is coupled to control said buffers in said second logic circuit concurrently.
- 17. The personal computer as claimed in claim 14 wherein said integrated circuit has a second terminal coupled to an input of said phase lock loop, said output of said oscillator and said input of said phase lock loop being electrically separated unless said first and second terminals are externally coupled off-chip.
- 18. The personal computer as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a peripheral processing unit coupled to said microprocessor wherein said peripheral processing unit supplies said mask clock signal to said logic circuit.
- 19. The personal computer as claimed in claim 18 wherein said peripheral processing unit is fabricated on an integrated circuit separate from said microprocessor.
- 20. The personal computer as claimed in claim 10 wherein at least one input to said logic circuit is software generated.
- 21. A personal computer as claimed in claim 10 wherein said input device includes a keyboard.
- 22. A personal computer as claimed in claim 10 wherein said display includes a CRT.
- 23. A personal computer as claimed in claim 10 wherein the personal computer has the form of a notebook computer.
Parent Case Info
This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/363,198, filed Dec. 22, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,837.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
363198 |
Dec 1994 |
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