Method and apparatus for increasing the operating frequency of an electronic circuit
US6813719B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 2, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D10/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates temporarily increasing the operating frequency of an electronic circuit, such as a computer system, beyond a maximum sustainable operating frequency. Upon receiving a request to operate at a higher frequency, the system determines the thermal energy level of a cooling system for the circuit. If the thermal energy level is below a threshold level for the thermal capacity of the cooling system, the system increases the operating frequency of the circuit to a frequency that is greater than the maximum sustainable operating frequency for a period of limited duration. This period of limited duration is short enough to ensure that a temperature increase, caused by increasing the operating frequency, does not raise the operating temperature of the circuit above a maximum operating temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.