US 5,996,084 A · Method and apparatus for real-time CPU thermal management and power conservation by adjusting CPU clock frequency in accordance with CPU activity

Abstract

A method and system (130) for controlling sensed CPU dynamic operating characteristics, such as CPU temperature, temperature change and power consumption, including the steps of and circuitry for sensing at least one dynamic CPU operating characteristic (140) while the CPU operates at a first clock rate (134). The system (130) determines that a setpoint interrupt condition exists (140), such as a temperature threshold, by virtue of the at least one sensed CPU dynamic operating characteristic establishing a predetermined relationship relative to a predetermined setpoint (140) that associates with the at least one dynamic operating characteristic. In the event that the setpoint interrupt condition exists, the circuitry and instructions control (144) the clock rate relative to the first clock rate. In the event that the setpoint interrupt condition does not exist, the circuitry and instructions repeat the above steps of determining the interrupt condition and controlling the clock rate. The method and system (130) also determine whether the CPU is in a compute-bound state (142). This operation in conjunction with a real-time power conservation apparatus and method (20) is a particularly attractive feature of the present invention.

Claims90

Dependent claims

A method for controlling sensed CPU dynamic operating characteristics, comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing at least one dynamic operating characteristic of a central processing unit (CPU) in a computer, said CPU operating at a first clock rate;
(b) determining that a setpoint interrupt condition exists by virtue of said at least one dynamic operating characteristic establishing a predetermined relationship relative to a predetermined setpoint associated with said at least one dynamic operating characteristic;
(c) in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition exists, modifying said first clock rate;
(d) in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition does not exist, determining whether said CPU is in a compute-bound state and, if said CPU is in a commute-bound state, further determining whether said interrupt condition will exist during said compute-bound state.

1 more element

A method for controlling sensed CPU dynamic operating characteristics, comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing at least one dynamic operating characteristic of a central processing unit (CPU) in a computer, said CPU operating at a first clock rate;
(b) determining that a setpoint interrupt condition exists by virtue of said at least one dynamic operating characteristic establishing a predetermined relationship relative to a predetermined setpoint associated with said at least one dynamic operating characteristic;
(c) in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition exists, modifying said first clock rate;
(d) in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition does not exist, determining whether said CPU is in a compute-bound state;
(e) if said CPU is in a compute-bound state, determining whether said at least one dynamic operating characteristic will exist in said interrupt condition during said compute-bound state, and,
(f) in the event that said interrupt condition will exist during said compute-bound state, modifying said interrupt condition.

3 more elements

A method for controlling sensed CPU dynamic operating characteristics, comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing at least one dynamic operating characteristic of a central processing unit (CPU) in a computer, said CPU operating at a first clock rate;
(b) determining that a setpoint interrupt condition exists by virtue of said at least one dynamic operating characteristic establishing a predetermined relationship relative to a predetermined setpoint associated with said at least one dynamic operating characteristic;
(c) in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition exists, modifying said first clock rate;
(d) in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition does not exist, determining whether said CPU is in a compute-bound state;
and
(e) if said CPU is in a compute-bound state, determining the duration of said compute-bound state by determining the amount of compute-bound instructions that said CPU is to execute during said compute-bound state.

3 more elements

A method for controlling sensed CPU dynamic operating characteristics, comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing at least one dynamic operating characteristic of a central processing unit (CPU) in a computer, said CPU operating at a first clock rate;
(b) determining that a setpoint interrupt condition exists by virtue of said at least one dynamic operating characteristic establishing a predetermined relationship relative to a predetermined setpoint associated with said at least one dynamic operating characteristic;
(c) in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition exists, modifying said first clock rate;
(d) in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition does not exist, determining whether said CPU is in a compute-bound state and, if said CPU is in a compute-bound state, determining the duration of said compute-bound state by determining the amount of compute-bound instructions that said CPU is to execute during said compute-bound state;
and
(e) modifying said interrupt condition in the event that said interrupt condition will exist during said compute-bound state.

3 more elements

A method for controlling sensed CPU dynamic operating characteristics, comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing at least one dynamic operating characteristic of a central processing unit (CPU) in a computer, said CPU operating at a first clock rate;
(b) determining that a setpoint interrupt condition exists by virtue of said at least one dynamic operating characteristic establishing a predetermined relationship relative to a predetermined setpoint associated with said at least one dynamic operating characteristic;
(c) in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition exists, modifying said first clock rate;
(d) in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition does not exist, determining whether said CPU is in a compute-bound state;
(e) if said CPU is in a compute-bound state, determining the duration of said compute-bound state;
and
(f) further modify said first clock rate to avoid the existence of said interrupt condition during said compute-bound state.

4 more elements

An apparatus for controlling sensed CPU dynamic operating characteristics, comprising:

(a) sensing circuitry for sensing at least one dynamic operating characteristic of a central processing unit (CPU) in a computer, said CPU operating at a first clock rate;
(b) setpoint instructions for operating on said CPU for determining that a setpoint interrupt condition exists by virtue of said at least one dynamic operating characteristic establishing a predetermined relationship relative to a predetermined setpoint associated with said at least one dynamic operating characteristic;
(c) control instructions for modifying said first clock rate in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition exists;
and
(d) compute-bound determining instructions for determining whether said CPU is in a compute-bound state and, if said CPU is in a compute-bound state, further determining whether said interrupt condition will exist during said compute-bound state.

2 more elements

An apparatus for controlling sensed CPU dynamic operating characteristics, comprising:

(a) sensing circuitry for sensing at least one dynamic operating characteristic of a central processing unit (CPU) in a computer, said CPU operating at a first clock rate;
(b) setpoint instructions for operating on said CPU for determining that a setpoint interrupt condition exists by virtue of said at least one dynamic operating characteristic establishing a predetermined relationship relative to a predetermined setpoint associated with said at least one dynamic operating characteristic;
(c) control instructions for modifying said first clock rate in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition exists;
and
(d) compute-bound determining instructions for determining whether said CPU is in a compute-bound state wherein said setpoint instructions further comprising instructions for determining whether said at least one dynamic operating characteristic will exist in said interrupt condition during said compute-bound state, and further comprising modifying instructions for modifying said interrupt condition in the event that said interrupt condition will exist during said compute-bound state.

2 more elements

A method for controlling sensed CPU dynamic operating characteristics, comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing circuitry for sensing at least one dynamic operating characteristic of a central processing unit (CPU) in a computer, said CPU operating at a first clock rate;
(b) setpoint instructions for operating on said CPU for determining that a setpoint interrupt condition exists by virtue of said at least one dynamic operating characteristic establishing a predetermined relationship relative to a predetermined setpoint associated with said at least one dynamic operating characteristic;
(c) control instructions for modifying said first clock rate in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition exists;
and
(d) compute-bound determining instructions for determining whether said CPU is in a compute-bound state and, if said CPU is in a compute-bound state, determining the duration of said compute-bound state by determining the amount of compute-bound instructions that said CPU is to execute during said compute-bound state.

2 more elements

A method for controlling sensed CPU dynamic operating characteristics, comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing circuitry for sensing at least one dynamic operating characteristic of a central processing unit (CPU) in a computer, said CPU operating at a first clock rate;
(b) setpoint instructions for operating on said CPU for determining that a setpoint interrupt condition exists by virtue of said at least one dynamic operating characteristic establishing a predetermined relationship relative to a predetermined setpoint associated with said at least one dynamic operating characteristic;
(c) control instructions for modifying said first clock rate in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition exists;
and
(d) compute-bound determining instructions for determining whether said CPU is in a compute-bound state and determining the duration of said compute-bound state by determining the amount of compute-bound instructions that said CPU is to execute during said compute-bound state, and, further, modifying said interrupt condition in the event that said interrupt condition will exist during said compute-bound state.

2 more elements

A method for controlling sensed CPU dynamic operating characteristics, comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing circuitry for sensing at least one dynamic operating characteristic of a central processing unit (CPU) in a computer, said CPU operating at a first clock rate;
(b) setpoint instructions for operating on said CPU for determining that a setpoint interrupt condition exists by virtue of said at least one dynamic operating characteristic establishing a predetermined relationship relative to a predetermined setpoint associated with said at least one dynamic operating characteristic;
(c) control instructions for modifying said first clock rate in the event that said setpoint interrupt condition exists;
and
(d) compute-bound determining instructions for determining whether said CPU is in a compute-bound state and, if said CPU is in a compute-bound state, determining the duration of said compute-bound state and further modify said first clock rate for avoiding the existence of said interrupt condition during said compute-bound state.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for real-time CPU thermal management and power conservation by adjusting CPU clock frequency in accordance with CPU activity

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for real-time CPU thermal management and power conservation by adjusting CPU clock frequency in accordance with CPU activity

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims90