Multiple operating frequencies in a processor
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsVarghese George, Robert L. Farrell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power control circuit an corresponding technique for adjusting operating frequency and/or supply voltage in sections of a single electronic device while maintaining substantially constant operating frequency and/or supply voltage in the other sections in the electronic device. Such control is based on the operating environment of the hardware product employing the electronic device by determining whether the hardware product is connected to an external power source. As a result, the electronic device in the hardware product is able to operate at full frequency and voltage during certain situations and to operate at a reduced frequency and/or voltage in some sections of the processor and not in the other sections during other situations.
Claims21
An apparatus, comprising:
- a processor comprising a first section and a second section;
- a variable voltage regulator coupled to the first section of the processor to supply a first voltage;
- a fixed voltage regulator coupled to the second section of the processor to supply a substantially fixed voltage;
- and
- a multiplexer coupled to the variable voltage regulator to select the first voltage, wherein the multiplexer is further coupled to a controller, the controller to output one of a plurality of voltage codes to the multiplexer to control the selection of the first voltage.
A method, comprising:
- generating a first supply voltage by a first voltage regulator;
- generating a second supply voltage by a second voltage regulator;
- supplying the first supply voltage generated by the first voltage regulator to a first section of a processor;
- and
- supplying the second voltage generated by the second voltage regulator to a second section of the processor, the first and second sections of the processor to operate with a same power source, wherein generating the first supply voltage comprises selecting one of a plurality of voltage codes.
The method of 3, further comprising:
- generating plurality of clock signals having a plurality of frequencies by a clocking circuit contained within the processor;
- supplying a first generated clock signal having a first operating frequency to a first section of the processor;
- and
- supplying a second generated clock signal having a second operating frequency to a second section of the processor, the first and the second sections of the processor to operate with a same power source.
A method, comprising:
- changing a power supply voltage supplied to a processor;
- adjusting a first frequency of a first clock signal using a first set of frequency dividers to a first section of the processor, the adjusting based on the change in the power supply voltage, the first section of the processor to contain at least one subsection;
- and
- maintaining a second frequency of a second clock signal using a second set of frequency dividers to a second section of the processor.
A processor, comprising:
- a first set of frequency dividers to adjust a first frequency of a first clock signal based on a change in a power source coupled to the processor;
- and
- a first section of the processor to receive the adjusted first frequency of the first clock signal and a variable voltage supply based on the change in the power source;
- a second set of frequency dividers to maintain a second frequency of a second clock signal to a substantially fixed operating frequency;
- and
- a second section of the processor to receive the fixed second frequency of the clock signal and a fixed voltage independent of the change in the power source.
A method, comprising:
- operating a plurality of sections of a processor with a frequency and a voltage when the processor is supplied with power from an alternating current source;
- reducing both the frequency and the voltage to one of the plurality of sections of the processor when the processor is supplied with power from a direct current source;
- and
- maintaining at least one of the frequency and the voltage to another of the plurality of sections of the processor when the processor is supplied with power from the direct current source.
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for operating a plurality of sections of a processor with a frequency and a voltage when the processor is supplied with power from an alternating current source;
- means for reducing at least one of the frequency and the voltage to one of the plurality of sections of the processor when the processor is supplied with power from a direct current source;
- and
- means for maintaining at least one of the frequency and the voltage to another of the plurality of sections of the processor when the processor is supplied with power from the direct current source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.