Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for reducing standby power consumption due to leakage currents in memory circuits. In some embodiments, systems are provided with one or more processors having) bit cells coupled to a word-line node and to a virtual ground node. The word-line node is to be at an active word-line voltage when the row is active and an inactive word-line voltage when the row is inactive. The virtual ground node is to be at an operational ground voltage when the memory array is enabled and at an elevated voltage when the memory array is in a standby mode. There is also a word-line driver circuit coupled to the bit cells through the word-line and virtual ground nodes. The current leakage in the bit cells and word-line driver circuit is reduced during the standby mode when the virtual ground node is at the elevated voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for reducing standby power consumption due to leakage currents in memory array circuits.

Abstract: A time delay from a triggering event to switching of an output signal in a microelectronic device can be adjusted to compensate for various characteristics of the electronic device. The characteristics include temperature, voltage, and manufacturing process conditions. The time delay is adjusted using a variable delay circuit having multiple delay cells that are selectively coupled to control the time delay. The conditions of the electronic device are detected using a process sensor, which includes an oscillator having a frequency that is sensitive to variations in the conditions.

Abstract: A time delay from a triggering event to switching of an output signal in a microelectronic device can be adjusted to compensate for various characteristics of the electronic device. The characteristics include temperature, voltage, and manufacturing process conditions. The time delay is adjusted using a variable delay circuit having multiple delay cells that are selectively coupled to control the time delay. The conditions of the electronic device are detected using a process sensor, which includes an oscillator having a frequency that is sensitive to variations in the conditions.

Abstract: A time delay from a triggering event to switching of an output signal in a microelectronic device can be adjusted to compensate for various characteristics of the electronic device. The characteristics include temperature, voltage, and manufacturing process conditions. The time delay is adjusted using a variable delay circuit having multiple delay cells that are selectively coupled to control the time delay. The conditions of the electronic device are detected using a process sensor, which includes an oscillator having a frequency that is sensitive to variations in the conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the power consumption of an integrated circuit when the core logic of the integrated circuit is in the quiescent or idle state. The method and apparatus includes a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit for generating an internal clock, wherein the frequency of the internal clock is at a predetermined multiple of the frequency of the global clock signal. When the integrated circuit is quiescent, the present invention provides circuitry which permits the internal clock to be slowed to a lower frequency or the internal clock to be frozen to reduce power consumption.

Abstract: A microprocessor that operates at the speed of the the bus or at a speed which is a multiple of the bus speed-on a selectable basis. The microprocessor includes a phase locked loop to generate clock signals for operations within the microprocessor and bus clock signals for data transfer operations on the bus. The present invention allows a microprocessor core to operate at the same frequency or twice the frequency of the address/data buses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for powering down a microprocessor in a computer system. The method and apparatus includes a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit, wherein the phase locked loop generates bus clock signals for clocking the operations on the bus and core clock signals for clocking the core of the processor in response to global clock signal of the computer system. The microprocessor includes circuitry for processing data synchronous with the core clock signals. The method and circuit also includes circuitry for placing the processor in a reduced power consumption state in response to the execution of a power down instruction. In this manner, the computer system reduces power consumption.

Abstract: A microprocessor that operates at the speed of the the bus or at a speed which is a multiple of the bus speed on a selectable basis. The microprocessor includes a phase locked loop to generate clock signals for operations within the microprocessor and bus clock signals for data transfer operations on the bus. The present invention allows a microprocessor core to operate at the same frequency or twice the frequency of the address/data buses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing a processor to invalidate an individual line of its internal cache while in a non-clocked low power state. The present invention includes circuitry for placing the processor in a reduced power consumption state. The present invention also includes circuitry for powering up the processor out of the reduced power consumption state to invalidate data in the cache in order to maintain cache coherency while in the reduced power consumption state.

Abstract: A microprocessor that operates at the speed of the bus or at a speed which is a multiple of the bus speed on a selectable basis. The microprocessor includes a phase locked loop to generate clock signals to clock the operations within the microprocessor and bus clock signals to clock data transfer operations between the microprocessor and the bus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing a processor to invalidate an individual line of its internal cache while in a non-clocked low power state. The present invention includes circuitry for placing the processor in a reduced power consumption state. The present invention also includes circuitry for powering up the processor out of the reduced power consumption state to invalidate data in the cache in order to maintain cache coherency while in the reduced power consumption state.