IP Library Granted Patent US 8,127,156
Granted Patent B2
US 8,127,156 · App. 12/410,249 · Granted Feb 28, 2012

Systems and methods for control of integrated circuits comprising body biasing systems

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,127,156
App. No.
12/410,249
Granted
Feb 28, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for control of integrated circuits comprising body-biasing systems. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a desirable power condition of a computer system comprising a microprocessor is determined. Body biasing voltage information corresponding to the power condition is accessed. A voltage supply coupled to a body terminal of the microprocessor is commanded to generate a voltage corresponding to the body biasing voltage information corresponding to the power condition.

Claims (33)

1. A computer system comprising:

a plurality of data storage locations comprising body biasing voltage information corresponding to a plurality of power modes of said computer system;

a voltage supply to generate a body biasing voltage for circuitry of said computer system according to said body biasing voltage information; and

circuitry to selectively couple said body biasing voltage information from one of said plurality of data storage locations corresponding to one of said plurality of power modes to said voltage supply,

wherein said computer system does not execute instructions in at least one of said plurality of power modes.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said circuitry of said computer system comprises a microprocessor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said voltage supply comprises a charge pump.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said circuitry to selectively couple comprises a multiplexer.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said multiplexer is controlled by a power state signal generated by a southbridge.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of default information to initialize said plurality of data storage locations.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of data storage locations is modifiable by a processor of said computer system.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said circuitry to selectively couple is operable when said computer system is unable to execute software instructions.

9. A method comprising:

determining a desirable power condition, of a set of power conditions, of a computer system comprising a microprocessor, wherein said set of power conditions comprises a power down state;

accessing body biasing voltage information corresponding to said power condition; and

commanding a voltage supply coupled to a body terminal of said microprocessor to generate a voltage corresponding to said body biasing voltage information corresponding to said power condition.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said determining comprises accessing a plurality of signal lines from a southbridge.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said accessing comprises at least one of said plurality of signal lines controlling a multiplexer.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said body biasing voltage information is modifiable by said computer system.

13. The method of claim 9 operable when said microprocessor is unable to execute software instructions.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said commanding comprises selectively coupling said body biasing voltage information to said voltage supply.

15. An integrated circuit comprising:

a plurality of registers configured to store body biasing voltage information corresponding to a plurality of power modes of a computer system;

a first voltage supply to generate a body biasing voltage for p-type devices of a microprocessor of said computer system according to said body biasing voltage information;

a second voltage supply to generate a body biasing voltage for n-type devices of said microprocessor of said computer system according to said body biasing voltage information; and

circuitry to selectively couple said body biasing voltage information from one of said plurality of registers corresponding to one of said plurality of power modes to said first and second voltage supplies,

wherein said power mode is established open loop.

16. The integrated circuit of claim 15 wherein said first voltage supply comprises a charge pump.

17. The integrated circuit of claim 15 wherein said circuitry to selectively couple comprises a multiplexer.

18. The integrated circuit of claim 17 wherein said multiplexer is controlled by a power state signal generated by a southbridge.

19. The integrated circuit of claim 15 further comprising a plurality of default information to initialize said plurality of registers.

20. The integrated circuit of claim 15 wherein said plurality of registers is modifiable by said microprocessor.

21. The integrated circuit of claim 15 wherein said circuitry to selectively couple is operable when said microprocessor is unable to execute software instructions.

Assignments (5)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 1, 2023
From: RPX CORPORATION
To: BARINGS FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063503/0742 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2020
From: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 154 LLC
To: LIBERTY PATENTS LLC
Reel/Frame 051709/0805 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2020
From: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES HOLDING 81 LLC
To: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 154 LLC
Reel/Frame 051411/0565 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 036711 FRAME: 0160. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Oct 6, 2015
From: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES FUNDING LLC
To: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES HOLDING 81 LLC
Reel/Frame 036797/0356 →
MERGER Recorded Sep 29, 2015
From: INTELLECTUAL VENTURE FUNDING LLC
To: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES HOLDING 81 LLC
Reel/Frame 036711/0160 →