초록 ▼

According to an embodiment of the invention, a method and apparatus are described for distributed power management. According to an embodiment of the invention, a method comprises monitoring one or more signals relating to the operation of each of a plurality of sub-modules; and managing power indep

According to an embodiment of the invention, a method and apparatus are described for distributed power management. According to an embodiment of the invention, a method comprises monitoring one or more signals relating to the operation of each of a plurality of sub-modules; and managing power independently for each sub-module based on the monitored signals.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method comprising:monitoring one or more signals relating to the operation of each of a plurality of sub-modules, the plurality of sub-modules including a first sub-module coupled with a second sub-module, wherein monitoring signals for the second sub-module comprises monitoring a control signa

1. A method comprising:monitoring one or more signals relating to the operation of each of a plurality of sub-modules, the plurality of sub-modules including a first sub-module coupled with a second sub-module, wherein monitoring signals for the second sub-module comprises monitoring a control signal from the first sub-module and monitoring a status signal for the second sub-module; and managing power independently for each sub-module based on the monitored signals, wherein managing power for the second sub-module comprises activating a clock signal for the second sub-module upon receiving the control signal from the first sub-module and deactivating the clock signal for the second sub-module upon receiving the status signal for the second sub-module. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the clock signal for each sub-module is activated only for the duration of an operation of the sub-module.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal comprises a signal indicating that the first sub-module has valid data or a signal indicating that the first sub-module has completed an operation.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the status signal comprises a completion signal from the second sub-module.5. A power management system comprising:a plurality of power management units, each power management unit being associated with one of a plurality of sub-modules; each power management unit to control the operation of a clock signal for the associated sub-module, a first power management unit to provide a signal to activate an associated first sub-module upon receiving a control signal for the first sub-module from a second sub-module and the first power management unit to provide a signal to deactivate the first sub-module upon receiving a status signal from the first sub-module. 6. The power management system of claim 5, wherein each power management unit controls the operation of the clock for the associated sub-module independently from the operation of a clock for any other sub-module.7. The power management system of claim 5, wherein the clock signal for each sub-module is activated only for the duration of an operation of the sub-module.8. The power management system of claim 5, wherein the first and second sub-modules are connected in a chain, the second sub-module preceding the first sub-module.9. The power management system of claim 5, wherein the first and second sub-modules operate sequentially, the second sub-module operating before the first sub-module.10. The power management system of claim 5, wherein the first and second sub-modules operate at least in part in parallel.11. The power management system of claim 5, wherein the first and second sub-modules operate partially in parallel as a pipeline.12. The power management system of claim 5, wherein the control signal comprises an initiation signal for the associated sub-module.13. The power management system of claim 12, wherein the initiation signal comprises a start signal or an enable signal.14. The power management system of claim 12, wherein the status signal comprises a completion signal from the associated sub-module.15. The power management system of claim 5, further comprising a power management unit master coupled with the plurality of power management units.16. The power management system of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of power management units can provide a clock enable signal to the power management master unit.17. The power management system of claim 16, wherein the power management unit master provides a clock signal to a sub-module upon receiving a clock enable signal from the power management unit associated with the sub-module.18. A power management unit comprising:a plurality of detectors to detect signals relating to the operation of a sub-module, the detectors including comprise a detector to detect an initiation signal for the sub-module and a detector to detect a completion signal from the sub-module; an output to provide a signal for activation or deactivation of clocking of the sub-module; a delay unit to produce a delayed start signal to the sub-module upon receiving an initiation signal for the sub-module; and an output to provide the delayed start signal to the sub-module. 19. The power management unit of claim 18, wherein the initiation signal comprises a start signal or an enable signal for the sub-module.20. The power management unit of claim 18, wherein the power management unit operates independently from the operation of a second power management unit that is contained in a system with the power management unit.21. The power management unit of claim 18, wherein the signal for activation or deactivation of clocking for the sub-module is a clock enable signal.22. The power management unit of claim 21, wherein the clock enable signal is provided to a power management unit master.23. The power management unit of claim 22, wherein the power management unit master provides a clock signal to the sub-module upon receiving an active clock enable signal.24. The power management unit of claim 23, wherein the clock signal for the sub-module is activated only for the duration of an operation of the sub-module.25. The power management unit of claim 18, wherein the signal for activation or deactivation of clocking for the sub-module is a clock signal provided to the sub-module.26. A power management system comprising:a power management unit master; and a plurality of power management unit slaves, each power management unit slave being coupled with the power management unit master, each power management unit slave being associated with a corresponding sub-module of a plurality of sub-modules, each power management unit slave to provide a clock enable signal to the power management unit master upon receiving a control signal for the associated sub-module and to provide a clock disable signal to the power management unit master upon receiving a status signal from the associated sub-module. 27. The power management system of claim 26, wherein the power management unit master provides a clock signal to a sub-module upon receiving a clock enable signal from the power management slave associated with the sub-module.28. The power management system of claim 26, wherein each power management unit slave controls the operation of the clock signal for the associated sub-module independently from the operation of a clock signal for any other sub-module of the plurality of sub-modules.29. The power management system of claim 26, wherein two or more of the plurality of sub-modules are connected in a chain.30. The power management system of claim 26, wherein two or more of the plurality of sub-modules operate sequentially.31. The power management system of claim 26, wherein two or more of the plurality of sub-modules operate in parallel.32. The power management system of claim 26, wherein two or more of the plurality of sub-modules operate partially in parallel as a pipeline.33. The power management system of claim 26, wherein the control signal comprises an initiation signal for the associated sub-module.34. The power management system of claim 33, wherein the initiation signal comprises a start signal or an enable signal for the associated sub-module.35. The power management system of claim 26, wherein a status signal comprises a completion signal from the sub-module.36. An interchangeable computer adapter card comprising:a master control unit to control operations performed on the card; a physical layer processor; and a radio section to transmit and receive radio signals to and from the card, the radio section comprising a power management system, the power management system comprising: a plurality of power management units, each power management unit being associated with one of a plurality of sub-modules; each power management unit to control the operation of a clock signal for the associated sub-module, a first power management unit to provide a signal to activate an associated first sub-module upon receiving a control signal for the sub-module from a second sub-module and the first cower management unit to provide a signal to deactivate the first sub-module upon receiving a status signal from the first sub-module. 37. The adapter card of claim 36, wherein each power management unit controls the operation of the clock for the associated sub-module independently from the operation of a clock for any other sub-module.38. The adapter card of claim 36, wherein the clock signal for each sub-module is activated only for the duration of an operation of the sub-module.39. The adapter card of claim 36, wherein the first and second sub-modules are connected in a chain, the second sub-module preceding the first sub-module.40. The adapter card of claim 36, wherein the first and second sub-modules operate sequentially, the second sub-module operating before the first sub-module.41. The adapter card of claim 36, wherein the first and second sub-modules operate at least in part in parallel.42. The adapter card of claim 36, wherein the first and second sub-modules operate partially in parallel as a pipeline.43. The adapter card of claim 36, wherein the control signal comprises an initiation signal for the associated sub-module.44. The adapter card of claim 43, wherein the initiation signal comprises a start signal or an enable signal.45. The adapter card of claim 36, wherein the status signal comprises a completion signal from the associated sub-module.46. The adapter card of claim 36, wherein the power management system further comprises a power management unit master.47. The adapter card of claim 46, wherein each of the plurality of power management units can provide a clock enable signal to the power management master unit.48. The adapter card of claim 47, wherein the power management unit master provides a clock signal to a sub-module upon receiving a clock enable signal from the power management unit associated with the sub-module.