Patent · US Active

Apparatus and method for proactive power management to avoid unintentional processor shutdown

US11429173B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
2References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 21, 2018
Grant dateAug 30, 2022
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 27, 2039

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D30/50
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Described is an apparatus and method to prevent a processor from abruptly shutting down by proactive power management. The apparatus comprises a power supply rail to receive a current and a voltage from a power supply generator (e.g., a DC-DC converter, and low dropout regulator); a processor coupled to the power supply rail, wherein the processor is to operate with a current and a voltage provided by the power supply rail; and an interface to receive a request to throttle one or more performance parameters of the processor when a monitored current through the power supply rail or a monitored voltage on the power supply rail crosses a threshold current or a threshold voltage, respectively, wherein the threshold current is below a catastrophic threshold current of a voltage regulator, or wherein the threshold voltage is above a catastrophic threshold voltage of the processor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.