# US 7,467,050 B2 · Method for detecting noise events in systems with time variable operating points

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- Number: US 7,467,050 B2
- Document ID: US7467050B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/420,825
- Filed: 2006-05-30
- Published: 2007-12-13
- Granted: 2008-12-16
- Earliest claimed: 2006-05-30
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Daniel Douriet; Anand Haridass; Andreas Huber; Colm B. O'Reilly; Bao G. Truong; Roger D. Weekly
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7467050B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/305: {in the event of power-supply fluctuations}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A circuit for detecting noise events in a system with time variable operating points is provided. A first voltage, which is averaged over time, is compared to a second voltage. A signal is generated to instruct circuits within a processor to initiate actions to keep a voltage from drooping further.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for detecting noise events in a system with time variable operating points, said method comprising:
receiving a first voltage, wherein the first voltage is a first fractional portion of a selected voltage to be monitored;
receiving a second voltage, wherein the second voltage is a second fractional portion of the monitored voltage and defines a threshold for a time variable operating point;
comparing the first voltage to the second voltage to form a comparison, wherein the comparison identifies a noise event; and
responsive to the comparison meeting a specified criteria, generating a signal to instruct circuits in a processor to initiate actions to keep the monitored voltage from drooping below the threshold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first voltage represents an average of a set of voltage measurements.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the average is an average over a specific time duration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the second voltage represents an average over a specific time duration that is shorter than the specific time duration of the first voltage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second voltage represents an instantaneous voltage.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the specified criteria comprises the second voltage being lower than the first voltage by a first specific amount.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the specified criteria comprises the second voltage being higher than the first voltage by a second specific amount.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
wherein the step of comparing the first voltage to the second voltage is performed by a comparator, wherein the comparator has an inverting input and a non-inverting input;
wherein the step of receiving the first voltage is performed by a first resistor divider network, the first resistor divider network comprising two resistors, wherein the first resistor divider network presents the first voltage to the inverting input of the comparator;
wherein the step of receiving the second voltage is performed by a second resistor divider network, the second resistor divider network comprising two resistors, wherein the second resistor divider network presents the second voltage, filtered by a capacitor, to the non-inverting input of the comparator; and
wherein the step of generating a signal to instruct a processor to initiate actions to keep the monitored voltage from drooping further is performed by a latch, the latch comprising an input for receiving input from the comparator, a processor clock input, and an output, wherein the output sends a signal to instruct the processor to initiate actions to keep the voltage from drooping below the threshold level, based upon the input from the comparator.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a set of circuits and subassemblies that have an observable variable represented by a magnitude of the signal voltage and have undesired voltage noise on the signal voltage.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the specified criteria comprises the noise event being a set fraction of the time variable operating point.