Battery powered device with dynamic power and performance management
A computing device operates over a range of voltages and frequencies and over a range of processor usage levels. The computing device includes at least a variable frequency generator, a variable voltage power supply and voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry. The variable frequency generator is coupled to the processor and delivers a clock signal to the processor. The variable voltage power supply is coupled to the processor and delivers voltage to the processor. The voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry adjust both the voltage provided by the variable voltage power supply and the frequency of the signal provided by the variable frequency generator. The computing device includes a temperature sensor that provides signals indicative of the temperature of the processor and the voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry adjusts the voltage and/or the clocking frequency provided by the variable voltage power supply. The computing device may also include a fan controlled by the voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry, the fan adjusting the temperature of the processor when activated. In cold weather applications, the computing device may further include a heater controlled by the voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry that raises the temperature of the processor when activated.
1. A computing device operable to perform a plurality of functions, at least two functions within the plurality of functions requiring different processing loads and consuming different amounts of energy, the computing device comprising:
a processor that is operable at a plurality of voltages and at a plurality of frequencies;
a variable frequency generator, communicatively coupled to the processor, that is operable to provide a clock signal;
a variable power supply, communicatively coupled to the processor, that is operable to provide a voltage; and
voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry that is communicatively coupled to the variable frequency generator and to the variable power supply;
wherein the voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry is operable to select a processor operating voltage from the plurality of voltages operable to be delivered to the processor;
wherein the voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry is operable to select a clock signal from the plurality of frequencies operable to be delivered to the processor; and
wherein the voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry is operable to prioritize the plurality of functions based on the criticality of each of the plurality of functions.
2. The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising a heater, communicatively coupled to the voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry; and
wherein the voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry is operable to adaptively select a heater operating voltage from the plurality of voltages to be delivered to the heater.
3. The computing device of claim 2 , wherein the voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry further comprises an advanced power management module; and
the advanced power management module employs intelligent control to select the heater operating voltage.
4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry further comprises an advanced power management module; and
the advanced power management module employs intelligent control to select at least one of the processor operating voltage and the clock signal frequency.
5. The computing device of claim 4 , wherein the intelligent control comprises employing fuzzy logic techniques.
6. The computing device of claim 4 , wherein each of the voltage level within the plurality of voltages and the clock signal within the plurality of frequencies are selected independently by the advanced power module.
7. The computing device of claim 4 , wherein the advanced power management module considers a total power reduction of the computing device when employing intelligent control to select both the processor operating voltage and the clock signal frequency.
8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the total reduced energy consumption comprises a first power reduction and a second power reduction;
the first power reduction is achieved by operating the processor at the selected processor operating voltage; and
the second power reduction is achieved by operating the processor at the selected clock signal frequency.
9. The computing device of claim 7 , further comprising at least one of a plurality of computing device components, a plurality of modules, and a plurality of subsystems; and
wherein the voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry further comprises an advanced power management module; and
the advanced power management module employs intelligent control to exercise a power saving cooperation among all of the elements of at least one of the plurality of computing device components, the plurality of modules, and the plurality of subsystems.
10. The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising a fan that is communicatively coupled to the variable voltage power supply; and
wherein the variable voltage power supply provides a fan operating voltage to the fan, the fan operating voltage corresponding to a rotation rate of the fan.
11. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the fan is operable at the plurality of voltages that may be provided by the variable voltage power supply, thereby being operable over a plurality of rotation rates.
12. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry further comprises an advanced power management module; and
the advanced power management module employs intelligent control to select the fan operating voltage that the variable voltage power supply provides to the fan.
13. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the intelligent control comprises employing fuzzy logic techniques.
14. The computing device of claim 1 , the voltage supply level and clocking frequency management circuitry comprising an advanced power management module operative to consider a total power reduction of the computing device in selecting the clock signal and the processor operating voltage.
15. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the total power reduction comprises at least one of a first power reduction and a second power reduction, wherein the first power reduction is achieved by operating the processor at the selected processor voltage, and the second power reduction is achieved by operating the processor at the selected clock signal.