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US 2003/0115013 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for thermal management of a power supply to a high performance processor in a computer system
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorBradley M. Dendinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The temperature of a component of a processor power supply that delivers chip core current to a data processor performing in a computer system is sensed. The system has a separate, main power supply from which the processor power supply draws the chip core current. A reduction in, and not a complete stoppage, of the performance of the data processor is requested, in response to the temperature having risen to a predetermined threshold.
Claims15
A method comprising:
- sensing the temperature of a component of a processor power supply that delivers chip core current to a data processor that is performing in an electronic system, the system having a separate main power supply from which the processor power supply draws the chip core current;
- and
- requesting a reduction in, and not to completely stop, the performance of the data processor, in response to the temperature having risen to a predetermined threshold.
An electronic system comprising:
- an integrated circuit (IC) die having a processor core, a chip core voltage input, and a chip core clock input;
- a processor power supply coupled to deliver chip core current to the processor core via the chip core voltage input;
- a control circuit coupled to the processor core to effect a reduction in processor performance and processor power consumption using one of (1) a variable voltage circuit coupled to enable the processor power supply to provide a lower chip core voltage, (2) a frequency control circuit coupled to the chip core clock input to provide a lower frequency clock signal, and (3) a modulation circuit coupled to the chip core clock input to provide a modulated clock signal;
- a temperature sensor coupled to sense the temperature of a component of the power supply that is to conduct a substantial part of the chip core current;
- and
- a processing circuit having an input coupled to a signal output of the temperature sensor, and an output coupled to the control circuit to request a reduction in, and not to completely stop, the performance of the processor core in response to the temperature of the power supply component having risen to a predetermined threshold.
3 more elements
An electronic system comprising:
- means for executing a plurality of machine-readable instructions according to a clock signal, the execution means to draw a chip core current at a chip core voltage;
- means for regulating the chip core voltage while supplying the chip core current;
- means for reducing the performance and power consumption of the execution means, by one of (1) lowering the chip core voltage, (2) lowering a frequency of the clock signal, and (3) modulating the clock signal;
- means for sensing the temperature of a component of the regulation means that conducts a substantial part of the chip core current;
- and
- means for requesting a reduction in, and not to completely stop, the performance of the execution means in response to the temperature of the component in the regulation means having risen to a predetermined threshold.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.