IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,565,560
Granted Patent B2
US 7,565,560 · App. 11/554,634 · Granted Jul 21, 2009

Supplying combinations of clock frequency, voltage, and current to processors

Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,565,560
App. No.
11/554,634
Granted
Jul 21, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Combinations of clock frequencies, voltages, and currents at which a processor operates normally are determined. These combinations are stored to a component on which the processor is installed. Voltage identifiers are stored to a computer system in which the component is installed. The voltage identifiers are associated with combinations of the voltages and currents. A type of the computer system is also stored to the component. A first clock frequency at which the processor operates is determined that is assigned to the type of the computer system. A first voltage and a first current are selected that are assigned to the first clock frequency. A first voltage identifier is found that is assigned to the combination of the first voltage and first current, and the first voltage identifier is sent to a voltage regulator, which supplies voltage to the processor.

Claims (41)

1. A method comprising:

determining a plurality of combinations of clock frequencies, associated respective voltage amounts, and associated respective current amounts at which a processor operates normally;

storing the plurality of combinations to a component, wherein the processor is installed on the component and wherein the component is installed in a computer system; and

storing a plurality of voltage identifiers to the computer system, wherein each of the voltage identifiers is associated with a combination of a respective one of the voltage amounts and one of the current amounts.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing a type of the computer system to the component; and

determining a first clock frequency that is assigned to the type, wherein the processor operates at the first clock frequency.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

selecting a first voltage amount and a first current amount that are assigned to the first clock frequency;

finding a first voltage identifier that is assigned to a combination of the first voltage amount and the first current amount; and

sending the first voltage identifier to a voltage regulator, wherein the voltage regulator selects a second voltage amount based on the first voltage identifier and supplies the second voltage amount to the processor.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second voltage amount comprises the first voltage amount.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second voltage amount is different from the first voltage amount.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

changing a value of the first voltage identifier.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the changing further comprises:

changing the value of the first voltage identifier in response to a measurement of a temperature with the computer system.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the changing the value of the first voltage identifier causes the voltage regulator to change a value of the second voltage amount.

9. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions, wherein the instructions when executed comprise:

determining a first clock frequency that is associated with a type of a computer system, wherein a processor that operates at the first clock frequency is installed in the computer system;

selecting a first voltage amount and a first current amount that are associated with the first clock frequency;

determining a first voltage identifier that is assigned to a combination of the first voltage amount and the first current amount; and

sending the first voltage identifier to a voltage regulator, wherein the voltage regulator selects a second voltage amount based on the first voltage identifier and supplies the second voltage amount to the processor.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the second voltage amount comprises the first voltage amount.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the second voltage amount is different from the first voltage amount.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , further comprising:

changing a value of the first voltage identifier.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the changing further comprises:

changing the value of the first voltage identifier in response to a measured current drawn by the processor.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the changing the value of the first voltage identifier causes the voltage regulator to change a value of the second voltage amount.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the determining the first voltage identifier further comprises:

determining the first voltage identifier from among a plurality of voltage identifiers assigned to a plurality of respective combinations of voltage amounts and current amounts.

16. A computer system comprising:

a component that comprises a processor and memory, wherein the memory stores a type of the computer system and a plurality of combinations of clock frequencies and associated voltage amounts and current amounts, and wherein the processor operates at a first clock frequency;

a controller, wherein the controller determines the first clock frequency that is associated with the type of the computer system; wherein the controller selects a first voltage amount and a first current amount that are associated with the first clock frequency and determines a first voltage identifier that is assigned to a combination of the first voltage amount and the first current amount; and

a voltage regulator connected to the component and the controller, wherein the voltage regulator receives the first voltage identifier from the controller, selects a second voltage amount based on the first voltage identifier, and supplies the second voltage amount to the processor.

17. The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the second voltage amount comprises the first voltage amount.

18. The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the second voltage amount is different from the first voltage amount.

19. The computer system of claim 16 , further comprising:

a monitor connected to the processor and the controller, wherein the monitor changes a value of the first voltage identifier that is assigned to a combination of the first voltage amount and the first current amount in response to a measurement of a temperature of the processor.

20. The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the voltage regulator changes a value of the second voltage amount in response to the change of the value of the first voltage identifier.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2006
From: BOECKER, DOUGLAS M.; EGAN, PATRICK K.; ROSEDAHL, TODD J.; ROTTER, JEFFREY S.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018456/0907 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080104423A1 · May 1, 2008