US5404543A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and system for reducing an amount of power utilized by selecting a lowest power mode from a plurality of power modes
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1992-05-29
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Granted: 1995-04-04
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Expires: 2012-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for managing the utilization of power is provided. In a system having one or more devices, such as a memory subsystem having one or more banks of memory, the amount of power necessary for the operation of one or more of the devices is monitored and if possible, the power being supplied to one or more of the devices is reduced. A scoreboard located within a memory controller is used to retain the available power modes for each of the devices. When it is determined that it is desirable to reduce the power being supplied to a particular device, then the scoreboard is accessed in order to determine the lowest power level available for the device. Using this information, an amount of power commensurate with the lowest power level is applied to the device, thereby reducing the amount of power being applied to the device. In one aspect of the invention, a device is automatically placed in its lowest power level when it has not been accessed for a preselected amount of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Marc R. Faucher
- 👤 Christopher M. Herring
- 👤 Mark W. Kellogg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3215; G06F1/3234; G06F1/325; G06F1/3275; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for reducing an amount of power used by a system having one or more devices, said method comprising the steps of: determining a plurality of power supply modes for a device of said system, said plurality of power supply modes being stored in a scoreboard; selecting from said plurality of power supply modes a lowest power mode for said device; and altering an amount of power supplied to said device, said altering step comprising placing said device in said selected lowest power mode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for reducing an amount of power used by a system having one or more devices, said method comprising the steps of: determining a plurality of power supply modes for a device of said system, said plurality of power supply modes being stored in a scoreboard; selecting from said plurality of power supply modes a lowest power mode for said device; and altering an amount of power supplied to said device, said altering step comprising placing said device in said selected lowest power mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said lowest power mode includes one of a depowered mode, a low voltage mode, a low voltage self-refresh mode, a self-refresh mode and an active mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said lowest power mode comprises said depowered mode and said placing step comprises the steps of: determining whether said device has been accessed in a predetermined amount of time; and reducing a voltage level of said device to zero volts, when said device has not been accessed in said predetermined amount of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said placing step further includes the step of updating said scoreboard to reflect said lowest power mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said lowest power mode comprises said low voltage self-refresh mode and said placing step comprises the steps of: reducing a voltage level of said device to a predetermined level; initiating a self-refresh cycle; and updating said scoreboard to reflect said lowest power mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said lowest power mode comprises said low voltage mode and said placing step comprises the steps of: reducing a voltage level of said device to a predetermined level; and updating said scoreboard to reflect said lowest power mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said lowest power mode comprises said self-refresh mode and said placing step comprises the steps of: initiating a self-refresh cycle; and updating said scoreboard to reflect said lowest power mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said system has more than one device and each of said more than one device has a plurality of power supply modes associated therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the scoreboard is programmable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of power supply modes comprises more than two power supply modes.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
90 words
A system for reducing an amount of power used by a system having one or more devices, said system comprising: means for determining a plurality of power supply modes supported by a device of said system, said plurality of power supply modes being stored in a scoreboard; means for selecting from said plurality of power supply modes a lowest power mode for said device; and means for altering an amount of power supplied to said device, said altering means comprising means for placing said device in said lowest power mode.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
90 words
A system for reducing an amount of power used by a system having one or more devices, said system comprising: means for determining a plurality of power supply modes supported by a device of said system, said plurality of power supply modes being stored in a scoreboard; means for selecting from said plurality of power supply modes a lowest power mode for said device; and means for altering an amount of power supplied to said device, said altering means comprising means for placing said device in said lowest power mode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said lowest power mode includes one of a depowered mode, a low voltage mode, a low voltage self-refresh mode, a self-refresh mode and an active mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said lowest power mode comprises said depowered mode and said means for placing comprises: means for determining whether said device has been accessed in a predetermined amount of time; and means for reducing a voltage level of said device to zero volts, when said device has not been accessed in said predetermined amount of time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said means for placing further comprises means for updating said scoreboard to reflect said lowest power mode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said lowest power mode comprises said low voltage self-refresh mode and said means for placing comprises: means for reducing a voltage level of said device to a predetermined level; means for initiating a self-refresh cycle; and means for updating said scoreboard to reflect said lowest power mode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said lowest power mode comprises said low voltage mode and said means for placing comprises: means for reducing a voltage level of said device to a predetermined level; and means for updating said scoreboard to reflect said lowest power mode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said lowest power mode comprises said self-refresh mode and said means for placing comprises: means for initiating a self-refresh cycle; and means for updating said scoreboard to reflect said lowest power mode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said system has more than one device and each of said more than one device has a plurality of power supply modes associated therewith.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
10 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the scoreboard is programmable.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said plurality of power supply modes comprises more than two power supply modes.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for automatically reducing an amount of power utilized by a system having one or more devices, said method comprising the steps of: determining whether a device of said system has been accessed within a preselected amount of time; selecting from a scoreboard an amount of power to be supplied to said device; and supplying to said device said selected amount of power when said device has not been accessed within said preselected amount of time.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for automatically reducing an amount of power utilized by a system having one or more devices, said method comprising the steps of: determining whether a device of said system has been accessed within a preselected amount of time; selecting from a scoreboard an amount of power to be supplied to said device; and supplying to said device said selected amount of power when said device has not been accessed within said preselected amount of time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said selecting step includes the steps of: determining a plurality of power supply modes for said device; and selecting from said plurality of power supply modes a lowest power mode for said device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 22, wherein said lowest power mode includes one of a depowered mode, a low voltage mode, a low voltage self-refresh mode, a self-refresh mode and an active mode.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the scoreboard is programmable.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
80 words
A system for automatically reducing an amount of power utilized by a system having one or more devices, said system comprising: means for determining whether a device of said system has been accessed within a preselected amount of time; means for selecting from a scoreboard an amount of power to be supplied to said device; and means for supplying to said device said selected amount of power when said device has not been accessed within said preselected amount of time.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
80 words
A system for automatically reducing an amount of power utilized by a system having one or more devices, said system comprising: means for determining whether a device of said system has been accessed within a preselected amount of time; means for selecting from a scoreboard an amount of power to be supplied to said device; and means for supplying to said device said selected amount of power when said device has not been accessed within said preselected amount of time.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 25, wherein said means for selecting comprises: means for determining a plurality of available power supply modes for said device; and means for selecting from said plurality of power supply modes a lowest power mode for said device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 26, wherein said lowest power mode includes one of a depowered mode, a low voltage mode, a low voltage self-refresh mode, a self-refresh mode and an active mode.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
10 words
The system of claim 25, wherein the scoreboard is programmable.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
71 words
A memory controller for a computer system having one or more devices, said memory controller comprising a computer interface having circuitry to perform a number of functions, said circuitry including a scoreboard for storing a plurality of power modes for at least one of said one or more devices and means for determining a lowest power mode stored in said scoreboard for at least one of said one or more devices.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
71 words
A memory controller for a computer system having one or more devices, said memory controller comprising a computer interface having circuitry to perform a number of functions, said circuitry including a scoreboard for storing a plurality of power modes for at least one of said one or more devices and means for determining a lowest power mode stored in said scoreboard for at least one of said one or more devices.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
The memory controller of claim 29, wherein said memory controller is coupled to a voltage generation means and wherein said voltage generation means receives from said memory controller a voltage value indicative of said lowest power mode.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
The memory controller of claim 30, further comprising at least one counter, said at least one counter being used to indicate whether said at least one of said one or more devices has been accessed in a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for reducing an amount of power used by a system having one or more devices, said method comprising the steps of: determining more than two voltage supply levels for a device of said system, said more than two voltage supply levels being stored within said system; selecting from said more than two voltage supply levels a lowest voltage level for said device; and placing said device at said selected lowest voltage level.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for reducing an amount of power used by a system having one or more devices, said method comprising the steps of: determining more than two voltage supply levels for a device of said system, said more than two voltage supply levels being stored within said system; selecting from said more than two voltage supply levels a lowest voltage level for said device; and placing said device at said selected lowest voltage level.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for reducing an amount of power used by a system having one or more devices, said system comprising: means for determining more than two voltage supply levels for a device of said system, said more than two voltage supply levels being stored within said system; means for selecting from said more than two voltage supply levels a lowest voltage level for said device; and means for placing said device at said lowest voltage level.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for reducing an amount of power used by a system having one or more devices, said system comprising: means for determining more than two voltage supply levels for a device of said system, said more than two voltage supply levels being stored within said system; means for selecting from said more than two voltage supply levels a lowest voltage level for said device; and means for placing said device at said lowest voltage level.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for reducing an amount of power used by a system having one or more memory banks, said method comprising the steps of: determining a plurality of power modes for a memory bank of said system, said plurality of power modes being stored within said system; selecting from said plurality of power modes a lowest power mode for said memory bank; and placing said memory bank in said lowest power mode.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for reducing an amount of power used by a system having one or more memory banks, said method comprising the steps of: determining a plurality of power modes for a memory bank of said system, said plurality of power modes being stored within said system; selecting from said plurality of power modes a lowest power mode for said memory bank; and placing said memory bank in said lowest power mode.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 34, wherein said system has a plurality of memory banks and wherein said determining step determines a plurality of power modes for each memory bank, and wherein said selecting step selects for each memory bank a lowest power mode for that memory bank, and wherein said placing step places each memory bank in its lowest power mode.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
75 words
A system for reducing an amount of power used by a system having one or more memory banks, said method comprising: means for determining a plurality of power modes for a memory bank of said system, said plurality of power modes being stored within said system; means for selecting from said plurality of power modes a lowest power mode for said memory bank; and means for placing said memory bank in said lowest power mode.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
75 words
A system for reducing an amount of power used by a system having one or more memory banks, said method comprising: means for determining a plurality of power modes for a memory bank of said system, said plurality of power modes being stored within said system; means for selecting from said plurality of power modes a lowest power mode for said memory bank; and means for placing said memory bank in said lowest power mode.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 36, wherein said system has a plurality of memory banks and wherein said means for determining determines a plurality of power modes for each memory bank, and wherein said means for selecting selects for each memory bank a lowest power mode for that memory bank, and wherein said means for placing places each memory bank in its lowest power mode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-03 | 1998-10-03 | 1999-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-03 | 2002-10-03 | 2003-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-03 | 2006-10-03 | 2007-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |