Patent ID: 6853929

Claim:
An apparatus for managing power consumption in a system including at least two modules for processing commands, the apparatus comprising: a first module having a clock input for receiving a first clock signal, the first module being operative to perform operations based on a received command and to generate a first busy signal indicating when the first module is busy; a second module for performing operations and having a clock input for receiving a second clock signal, the second module being operative to generate a second busy signal indicating when the second module is busy; first control logic connected to receive the first and second busy signals from the first and second modules, respectively, and having inputs for receiving a system clock signal and a command available signal indicating when a command is available, and an output for providing an enable signal, the first control logic being operative to activate the enable signal and the first clock signal when a command is available, and deactivate the enable signal and the first clock signal after a first time delay following an indication that none of the modules is busy and a command is not available; and second control logic having inputs for receiving the enable signal and the system clock signal and being operative to activate the second clock signal after a second time delay following the assertion of the enable signal and to deactivate the second clock signal after a third time delay following the de-assertion of the enable signal.