System and method for communicating device information between a device and a controller
US6880076B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 29, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 12, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F1/263
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention describe a system and method for microprocessor power regulation. An appropriate amount of voltage is provided to a microprocessor based on a voltage identifier (VID) received by a voltage controller from the microprocessor via a serial communication line. A voltage identifier clock signal (VIDClock) is used for the timing of transmission and receipt of data/acknowledgement signals. A guard clock signal (VIDGuard) is provided via a separate guard clock line to prevent potential noise on the clock line from causing a clock signal misidentification, which could cause a wrong value to be received as the VID. VIDGuard is analyzed in relation to ViDClock to verify the value of the clock signal. To verify receipt of the VID data, a voltage identifier acknowledgement line (VIDAck) is transmitted from the voltage regulator to the microprocessor. The acknowledgement signal is checked by a two-part receipt verification, high-to-low and low-to-high.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.