System and method for selecting a frequency and voltage combination from a table using a selection field and a read-only limit field
US6988211B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jan 17, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D10/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A selectable control over multiple clock frequency/voltage level combinations that can be activated in a processor. A table can be placed in hardware that defines multiple combinations of CPU clock frequency and CPU operating voltage. By placing the table in hardware, it can be assured that all the various combinations will work for the particular processor device. Software can then be used to select a combination from this table, to control the actual frequency/voltage combination that is being implemented at a given time. This allows dynamic control over the power/performance tradeoff, so that the system can see maximum power savings consistent with acceptable performance, as operating and environmental considerations continue to change the most desirable selections.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.