Patent · US Active

Structure for an apparatus for monitoring and controlling heat generation in a multi-core processor

US8214660B2 · kind B2 · utility

44Cited by
16References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 31, 2008
Grant dateJul 3, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 12, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F1/206
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A design structure for a processor may be embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing or testing a processor integrated circuit. The design structure may control heat generation in a multi-core processor. The design structure may specify that each processor core includes a temperature sensor that reports temperature information to a processor controller. The design structure may also specify that if a particular processor core exceeds a predetermined temperature, the processor controller disables that processor core to allow that processor core to cool. The design structure may also specify that the processor controller enables the previously disabled processor core when the previously disabled processor core cools sufficiently to a normal operating temperature. In this manner, a multi-core processor may avoid undesirable hot spots that impact processor life.

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