Patent · US Active

Operating processor below maximum turbo mode frequency by sending higher than actual current amount signal to monitor

US8429441B2 · kind B2 · utility

16Cited by
9References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 19, 2010
Grant dateApr 23, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 3, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method, computer program product and system for controlling the maximum turbo mode of a processor in a turbo boost state. The method comprises limiting a maximum turbo mode available to the processor by over-reporting the amount of current drawn by the processor to the current monitoring feedback line to the processor, wherein the processor uses the over-reported current to maintain operation of the processor within performance specifications of the processor. An automatic calibration routine may be used to determine nominal amounts of current over-reporting that may be used to prevent the processor performance from exceeding the maximum turbo mode. In one embodiment, a digital potentiometer is included in the voltage regulator circuit to over-report the current as instructed.

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