Patent ID: 6256743
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: G06F,Y02D

Abstract:
Method for reducing power consumption and heat dissipation of at least two functional units of a microelectronic device, the method comprising the steps of:compiling, by an optimization compiler, a stream of source code instructions into a stream of machine code instructions, wherein each machine code instruction has a data block that indicates which of the at least two functional units is required for execution;determining, by the optimization compiler, whether the stream of machine code instructions can be re-ordered to reduce the power consumption and heat dissipation of the at least two functional units;re-ordering, by the optimization compiler, the stream of machine code instructions based on said determining step; andexecuting the re-ordered stream of machine code instructions such that a clock signal only gets supplied to the functional unit if required for execution of the current machine code instruction in the stream, and continuing to supply the clock signal to the functional unit only if the next machine code instruction in the stream requires it for execution.