A data processing apparatus contains several processing circuits each
operating under control of its own periodic clock signal, so that the
clock signals may have different frequencies and/or can be autonomous.
The several processing circuits each have an output for outputting memory
access requests, which remain at the output for a validity duration
interval defined by the clock signal of the particular processor. A
multiplexing circuit multiplexes the access requests to a memory. The
memory needs a minimum memory repetition period before it can accept an
access request following acceptance of a preceding access request. The
clock periods of the processing circuits are longer than the minimum
memory repetition period. A timing circuit selects acceptance time points
at which each particular access request from a first data processing
circuit is accepted. The time point at which the particular request is
accepted is always within the validity duration interval in which the
particular access request is made. The timing circuit varies the position
of the acceptance time points within the validity duration intervals, so
that the position is delayed to make room for previously accepting an
access request from another processor. The position is subsequently moved
back toward a start of the validity duration interval in successive steps
during application of successive access requests from the first data
processing circuit.