Patent US4039798A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5774704A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for dynamic central processing unit clock adjustment
Assignee: Morgan Stanley and Co LLC
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Filing: 1996-07-29
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Granted: 1998-06-30
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Expires: 2016-07-29
Abstract
Abstract In a computer system having a cpu, a device for dynamic cpu clock adjustment. The device is comprised of a clock pulse generator for generating a clock frequency. The clock frequency is coupled to the cpu and is used by the cpu to synchronize and pace its internal operations. The clock frequency generated by the generator is variable over a range. A controller is coupled to the clock pulse generator, for adjusting the clock frequency from the clock pulse generator over the range. The controller interfaces with the computer system through an interface coupled to the controller. Through the interface, the controller communicates with the computer system or cpu and determines a load placed on the cpu. The controller adjusts the clock frequency generated by the clock pulse generator such that the clock frequency increases when the load on the cpu increases and the clock frequency decreases when the load on the cpu decreases, dynamically adjusting the clock frequency in response to the load on the cpu.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian Michael Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:13
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/20; G06F1/206; G06F1/04; G06F1/08; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
In a computer system having a central processing unit (cpu), a cpu clock adjustment device, comprising: a clock pulse generator coupled to the cpu for generating a clock frequency, wherein the clock frequency is variable over a range; a controller coupled to the clock pulse generator for adjusting the clock frequency from the clock pulse generator over the range; an interface coupled to the controller, the interface adapted to detect a load on the cpu, the interface for communicating the load on the cpu to the controller, such that the controller adjusts the clock frequency of the clock pulse generator in response to the load on the cpu; and a cooling device coupled to the controller for delivering an amount of cooling to the cpu, the amount of cooling dynamically adjusted depending upon the load placed on the cpu.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
In a computer system having a central processing unit (cpu), a cpu clock adjustment device, comprising: a clock pulse generator coupled to the cpu for generating a clock frequency, wherein the clock frequency is variable over a range; a controller coupled to the clock pulse generator for adjusting the clock frequency from the clock pulse generator over the range; an interface coupled to the controller, the interface adapted to detect a load on the cpu, the interface for communicating the load on the cpu to the controller, such that the controller adjusts the clock frequency of the clock pulse generator in response to the load on the cpu; and a cooling device coupled to the controller for delivering an amount of cooling to the cpu, the amount of cooling dynamically adjusted depending upon the load placed on the cpu.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 1 wherein the clock frequency from the clock pulse generator is dynamically adjusted by the controller depending upon the load placed on the cpu by a software program or a portion of a software program.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 2 wherein the clock frequency coupled to the cpu is reduced when the load placed on the cpu by the software program is reduced and the clock frequency coupled to the cpu is increased when the load placed on the cpu is increased.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to dynamically control the cooling device to deliver the amount of cooling to the cpu.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 4 wherein the amount of cooling delivered to the cpu is adjusted depending upon a load placed on the cpu, the amount of cooling increased when the load placed on the cpu increases.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 1 wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency coupled to a plurality of cpu's in response to a load on the plurality of cpu's.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 6 wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency coupled to the plurality of cpu's on either an individual basis, or, a collective basis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the controller, the temperature sensor coupled to the cpu, for sending a temperature of the cpu to the controller, wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency depending upon the temperature of the cpu.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a microprocessor based computer system for running software, a central processing unit (cpu) clock adjustment device, comprising: a clock pulse generator coupled to the cpu for generating a clock frequency, wherein the clock frequency is variable over a range; a controller coupled to the clock pulse generator for adjusting the clock frequency from the clock pulse generator over the range, the controller adapted to detect a load on the cpu, wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency of the clock pulse generator in response to the load on the cpu; a temperature sensor coupled to the controller for sending a temperature of the cpu to the controller, wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency depending upon th e temperature of the cpu; and a cooling device coupled to the controller for delivering an amount of cooling to the cpu, the amount of cooling dynamically adjusted depending upon the load placed on the cpu.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
In a microprocessor based computer system for running software, a central processing unit (cpu) clock adjustment device, comprising: a clock pulse generator coupled to the cpu for generating a clock frequency, wherein the clock frequency is variable over a range; a controller coupled to the clock pulse generator for adjusting the clock frequency from the clock pulse generator over the range, the controller adapted to detect a load on the cpu, wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency of the clock pulse generator in response to the load on the cpu; a temperature sensor coupled to the controller for sending a temperature of the cpu to the controller, wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency depending upon th e temperature of the cpu; and a cooling device coupled to the controller for delivering an amount of cooling to the cpu, the amount of cooling dynamically adjusted depending upon the load placed on the cpu.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 9 wherein the clock frequency from the clock pulse generator is dynamically adjusted by the controller depending upon the load placed on the cpu by software.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 10 wherein the clock frequency coupled to the cpu is reduced when the load placed on the cpu by the software is reduced and the clock frequency coupled to the cpu is increased when the load placed on the cpu is increased.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 9 wherein the controller is adapted to dynamically control the cooling device to deliver the amount of cooling.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 12 wherein the amount of cooling delivered to the cpu is adjusted depending upon a load placed on the cpu, the amount of cooling increased when the load placed on the cpu increases.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 9 wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency coupled to a plurality of cpu's in response to a load on the plurality of cpu's.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 14 wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency coupled to the plurality of cpu's on either an individual basis, or, a collective basis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a computer system having a central processing unit (cpu), a method for adjusting a clock frequency coupled to the cpu, comprising the steps of: generating the clock frequency, wherein the clock frequency is used by the cpu to synchronize internal operations of the cpu; detecting a load on the cpu, wherein the load originates from software executing on the cpu; increasing the clock frequency when the load placed on the cpu exceeds a threshold; decreasing the clock frequency when the load placed on the cpu does not exceed the threshold, such that the clock frequency is dynamically adjusted in response to the load placed on the cpu by software; setting an amount of cooling delivered to the cpu; increasing the amount of cooling delivered to the cpu when the load placed on the cpu by software exceeds the threshold; decreasing the amount of cooling delivered to the cpu when the load placed on the cpu by software does not exceed the threshold, such that the amount of cooling is dynamically adjusted in response to the load placed on the cpu.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a computer system having a central processing unit (cpu), a method for adjusting a clock frequency coupled to the cpu, comprising the steps of: generating the clock frequency, wherein the clock frequency is used by the cpu to synchronize internal operations of the cpu; detecting a load on the cpu, wherein the load originates from software executing on the cpu; increasing the clock frequency when the load placed on the cpu exceeds a threshold; decreasing the clock frequency when the load placed on the cpu does not exceed the threshold, such that the clock frequency is dynamically adjusted in response to the load placed on the cpu by software; setting an amount of cooling delivered to the cpu; increasing the amount of cooling delivered to the cpu when the load placed on the cpu by software exceeds the threshold; decreasing the amount of cooling delivered to the cpu when the load placed on the cpu by software does not exceed the threshold, such that the amount of cooling is dynamically adjusted in response to the load placed on the cpu.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: determining whether an over temperature condition exists in the cpu; decreasing the clock frequency if there is an over temperature condition in the cpu.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: setting an amount of cooling delivered to the cpu; increasing the amount of cooling delivered to the cpu when the load placed on the cpu by software exceeds the threshold; decreasing the amount of cooling delivered to the cpu when the load placed on the cpu by software does not exceed the threshold, such that the amount of cooling is dynamically adjusted in response to the load placed on the cpu.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: determining whether an over temperature condition exists in the cpu; increasing the amount of cooling if there is an over temperature condition in the cpu.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
118 words
In a computer system having a microprocessor, a microprocessor clock adjustment device, comprising: a clock pulse generator coupled to the microprocessor for generating a clock frequency, wherein the clock frequency is variable over a range; a controller coupled to the clock pulse generator for adjusting the clock frequency from the clock pulse generator over the range; an interface coupled to the controller, the interface adapted to detect a load on the microprocessor, wherein the load is determined by monitoring a pipeline control within the microprocessor, the interface for communicating the load on the microprocessor to the controller, such that the controller adjusts the clock frequency of the clock pulse generator in response to the load on the microprocessor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
118 words
In a computer system having a microprocessor, a microprocessor clock adjustment device, comprising: a clock pulse generator coupled to the microprocessor for generating a clock frequency, wherein the clock frequency is variable over a range; a controller coupled to the clock pulse generator for adjusting the clock frequency from the clock pulse generator over the range; an interface coupled to the controller, the interface adapted to detect a load on the microprocessor, wherein the load is determined by monitoring a pipeline control within the microprocessor, the interface for communicating the load on the microprocessor to the controller, such that the controller adjusts the clock frequency of the clock pulse generator in response to the load on the microprocessor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 20 wherein the pipeline control is coupled to a floating point unit, a memory management unit, and a central processing unit to coordinate the operation of the microprocessor, the load determined by monitoring the activity of the pipeline control.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 20 wherein the clock frequency from the clock pulse generator is dynamically adjusted by the controller depending upon the load placed on the microprocessor by a software program or a portion of a software program.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 22 wherein the clock frequency coupled to the microprocessor is reduced when the load placed on the microprocessor by the software program is reduced and the clock frequency coupled to the microprocessor is increased when the load placed on the microprocessor is increased.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 20 further comprising a cooling device coupled to the controller for delivering an amount of cooling to the microprocessor, the amount of cooling dynamically adjusted depending upon the load placed on the microprocessor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 24 wherein the amount of cooling delivered to the microprocessor is adjusted depending upon a load placed on the microprocessor, the amount of cooling increased when the load placed on the microprocessor increases.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 20 wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency coupled to a plurality of microprocessor's in response to a load on the plurality of microprocessor's.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 26 wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency coupled to the plurality of microprocessor's on either an individual basis, or, a collective basis.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
47 words
The clock adjustment device of claim 20 further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the controller, the temperature sensor coupled to the microprocessor, for sending a temperature of the microprocessor to the controller, wherein the controller adjusts the clock frequency depending upon the temperature of the microprocessor.
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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) | 2001-06-29 | 2001-12-29 | 2002-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-29 | 2005-12-29 | 2006-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-29 | 2009-12-29 | 2010-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |