ADAPTIVE POWER CONTROL

US 20130132749A1
Filed: 12/21/2012
Published: 05/23/2013
Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2000
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1-11. -11. (canceled)

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Abstract

A method for controlling the power used by a computer including the steps of measuring the operating characteristics of a central processor of the computer, determining when the operating characteristics of the central processor are significantly different than required by the operations being conducted, and changing the operating characteristics of the central processor to a level commensurate with the operations being conducted.

Citations

34 Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A method, comprising:
- determining a level of permitted power consumption by a processing device from a set of operating conditions of the processing device, with the determining the level of permitted power consumption not based upon instructions to be executed by the processing device;
  
  determining a highest allowable frequency of operation of the processing device that would result in power consumption not exceeding the level of permitted power consumption;
  
  determining a lowest allowable level of voltage to apply to the processing device that would allow execution of the instructions by the processing device at the highest allowable frequency; and
  
  changing power consumption of the processing device during execution of the instructions by reducing a magnitude of a difference between an operating frequency of the processing device and the highest allowable frequency of operation of the processing device and reducing a magnitude of a difference between a voltage applied to the processing device and the lowest allowable level of voltage.
- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- - 13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:
    - controlling a frequency generator, using the processing device, to provide the operating frequency to the processing device.
  - 14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:
    - supplying a clock signal to the frequency generator using a clock generator.
  - 15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein:
    - the processing device and the frequency generator are included in an integrated circuit with the clock generator external to the integrated circuit.
  - 16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:
    - controlling a programmable voltage supply, using the processing device, to provide the voltage applied to the processing device, with the voltage source external to the integrated circuit.
  - 17. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:
    - controlling a voltage source, using the processing device, to provide the voltage applied to the processing device.
  - 18. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein:
    - the magnitude of the difference between the operating frequency of the processing device and the highest allowable frequency of operation of the processing device is reduced before reducing the magnitude of the difference between the voltage applied to the processing device and the lowest allowable level of voltage.
  - 19. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein:
    - the reducing the magnitude of the difference between the voltage applied to the processing device and the lowest allowable level of the voltage includes changing the voltage applied in a plurality of decrements after the magnitude of the difference between the operating frequency of the processing device and the highest allowable frequency of operation of the processing device is reduced.
  - 20. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein:
    - the operating conditions include at least one of a temperature of the processing device, the voltage applied to the processing device, or the operating frequency of the processing device.

21. A method comprisingusing a processing device, monitoring operating parameters of the processing device operating at a first voltage and a first frequency;
- using the processing device and the operating parameters, determining a second frequency, less than the first frequency, for operation of the processing device, with the determining the second frequency not based upon instructions to be executed by the processing device;
  
  using the processing device and the operating parameters, determining a second voltage, having a magnitude less than a magnitude of the first voltage, for operation of the processing device, with the determining the second voltage not based upon instructions to be executed by the processing device;
  
  using the processing device, controlling a frequency generator to change a first clock signal supplied to the processing device from the first frequency to the second frequency; and
  
  using the processing device, controlling a voltage source to change a voltage supplied to the processing device from the first voltage to the second voltage while the processing device executes the instructions.
- View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- - 22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein:
    - the change of the first clock signal from the first frequency to the second frequency occurs prior to changing the first voltage to the second voltage.
  - 23. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein:
    - the change of the first voltage to the second voltage includes changing the voltage supplied to the processing device in a plurality of decrements after the change of the first clock signal from the first frequency to the second frequency.
  - 24. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein:
    - the operating parameters include at least one of a temperature of the processing device, the first voltage, or the first frequency.
  - 25. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising:
    - supplying a second clock signal to the frequency generator using a clock generator.
  - 26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein:
    - the processing device and the frequency generator are included in an integrated circuit with the clock generator external to the integrated circuit.
  - 27. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein:
    - the voltage source includes a programmable voltage supply external to the integrated circuit.

28. An apparatus, comprising:
- a frequency generator configured to generate a first clock signal at a first frequency; and
  
  a processing device configured to receive the first clock signal and a first voltage provided by a voltage source, the processing device operable to monitor operating parameters of the processing device, the processing device operable to determine a second frequency of the first clock signal and a second voltage for operation of the processing device at lower power than operation at the first frequency and the first voltage, with the processing device operable to determine the second frequency and the second voltage not based on instructions to be executed by the processing device, the processing device operable to control the frequency generator to change from generating the first clock signal at the first frequency to generating the first clock signal at a second frequency, and the processing device operable to control the voltage source to change from providing the first voltage to providing the second voltage during execution of the instructions by the processing device.
- View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
- - 29. The apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein:
    - the processing device is operable to control the change of the first clock signal from the first frequency to the second frequency occurs prior to changing the first voltage to the second voltage.
  - 30. The apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein:
    - the processing device is operable to control the change of the first voltage to the second voltage in a plurality of decrements after the change of the first clock signal from the first frequency to the second frequency.
  - 31. The apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein:
    - the operating parameters include at least one of a temperature of the processing device, the first voltage, or the first frequency.
  - 32. The apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein:
    - the frequency generator is configured to receive a second clock signal provided by a clock generator.
  - 33. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein:
    - the processing device and the frequency generator are included in an integrated circuit with the clock generator external to the integrated circuit.
  - 34. The apparatus as recited in claim 33, wherein:
    - the voltage source includes a programmable voltage supply external to the integrated circuit.

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Current Assignee
Semcon IP Inc. (Quest Patent Research Corporation)
Original Assignee
Intellectual Ventures Funding LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
Inventors
Halepete, Sameer, Anvin, H. Peter, Chen, Zongjian, D'Souza, Godfrey P., Fleischmann, Marc, Klayman, Keith, Lawrence, Thomas, Read, Andrew

Granted Patent

US 8,806,247 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

713/322
CPC Class Codes

G06F 1/08   Clock generators with chang...

G06F 1/3203   Power management, i.e. even...

G06F 1/324   by lowering clock frequency

G06F 1/3296   by lowering the supply or o...

Y02D 10/00   Energy efficient computing,...

ADAPTIVE POWER CONTROL

First Claim

9 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

Citations

34 Claims

Specification

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ADAPTIVE POWER CONTROL

First Claim

9 Assignments

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0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

Citations

34 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

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