Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip containing a plurality of voltage islands containing corresponding functional blocks that can be selectively fenced, i.e., powered down, while saving the states of the corresponding inputs, and unfenced in order to manage power consumption of the chip. Each fencable functional block includes a power switch and state-saving circuitry for saving the state of the inputs to that functional block. A power modulation unit (PMU) generates fencing signals that control the power switches and state-saving circuitries so as to selectively fence the corresponding functional blocks. The PMU generates the fencing signals as a function of one or more operating arguments.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip (100) containing a plurality of voltage islands (124I-M) containing corresponding functional blocks (104I-M) that can be selectively fenced, i.e., powered down, while saving the states of the corresponding inputs, and unfenced in order to manage power consumption of the chip. Each fencable functional block includes a power switch (140I-M) and state-saving circuitry (148I-M) for saving the state of the inputs to that functional block. A power modulation unit (PMU) (132) generates fencing signals (144I-M) that control the power switches and state-saving circuitries so as to selectively fence the corresponding functional blocks. The PMU generates the fencing signals as a function of one or more operating arguments.