Patent US6510400B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6510400B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Temperature control circuit for central processing unit
Assignee: NEC Personal Computers Ltd
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Filing: 2000-03-28
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Granted: 2003-01-21
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Expires: 2020-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A CPU temperature control circuit is provided that can vary the clock frequency and the power source voltage of a central processing unit (CPU) while the CPU meets the operational specifications. The comparison circuit 8 compares the temperature of the CPU 1 measured by the CPU temperature sensor 2 with temperature information previously stored in the ROM 6. The CLK and power-source control circuit 9 switches the clock frequency from a high frequency to a low frequency when the temperature of the CPU 1 becomes high. Then, the CKL and power-source control circuit 9 switches the power source voltage from a high voltage to a low voltage at the time the timer 12 counts up. When the temperature of the CPU 1 becomes low, the CLK and power-source control circuit 9 switches the power source voltage from a low voltage to a high voltage. Then, the CLK and power-source control circuit 9 switches the clock frequency from a low frequency to a high frequency at the time the timer 13 counts up.
Inventors
- 👤 Shuichi Moriyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/20; G06F1/206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A temperature control circuit f or controlling the temperature of a central processing unit, comprising: a central processing unit; a clock generator for supplying clock pulses to said central processing unit; a power source circuit for supplying a power source voltage to said central processing unit; temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of said central processing unit; a storage section for previously storing a reference temperature value of said central processing unit; a comparator for comparing a measurement result of said temperature measuring means with said reference value stored in said storage section; and control means for switching a clock frequency of said clock generator from a high frequency to a low frequency when said temperature measurement result is larger than said reference value based on an output from said comparator and, after a changeover time of said clock frequency is completed, switching said power source voltage of said power source circuit from a high voltage to a low voltage, and for switching said power source voltage of said power source circuit from a low voltage to a high voltage when said temperature measurement result is lower than said reference value and, after a changeover time of said power source voltage is completed, switching said clock frequency of said clock generator from a low frequency to a high frequency.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
A temperature control circuit f or controlling the temperature of a central processing unit, comprising: a central processing unit; a clock generator for supplying clock pulses to said central processing unit; a power source circuit for supplying a power source voltage to said central processing unit; temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of said central processing unit; a storage section for previously storing a reference temperature value of said central processing unit; a comparator for comparing a measurement result of said temperature measuring means with said reference value stored in said storage section; and control means for switching a clock frequency of said clock generator from a high frequency to a low frequency when said temperature measurement result is larger than said reference value based on an output from said comparator and, after a changeover time of said clock frequency is completed, switching said power source voltage of said power source circuit from a high voltage to a low voltage, and for switching said power source voltage of said power source circuit from a low voltage to a high voltage when said temperature measurement result is lower than said reference value and, after a changeover time of said power source voltage is completed, switching said clock frequency of said clock generator from a low frequency to a high frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The temperature control circuit defined in claim 1 , wherein said control means comprises: a first timer to which said changeover time of said clock frequency is previously set; and a second timer to which said changeover time of said power source voltage is previously set; wherein said clock frequency is switched based on an output from said first timer and said power source voltage is switched based on an output from said second timer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
119 words
The temperature control circuit defined in claim 1 , wherein said control means comprises: a third timer to which the time said clock frequency changes from a high frequency to a first low frequency is previously set; and a fourth timer to which the time said clock frequency changes from said first low frequency to a second low frequency is previously set; wherein said power source voltage is switched from said high voltage to a first low voltage at the time the set time of said third timer has passed and said power source voltage is switched from said first low voltage to a second low voltage at the time the set time of said fourth timer has passed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
162 words
A temperature control circuit for controlling the temperature of a central processing unit, comprising: a central processing unit; a clock generator for supplying clock pulses to said central processing unit; a power source circuit for supplying a power source voltage to said central processing unit; control means for switching said clock frequency of said clock generator from a high frequency to a low frequency when an external temperature control signal indicates a temperature drop and, after a changeover time of said clock frequency is completed, switching said power source voltage of said power source circuit from a high voltage to a low voltage, and for switching said power source voltage of said power source circuit from a low voltage to a high voltage when said temperature control signal indicates release of a temperature drop and, after a changeover time of said power source voltage is completed, switching said clock frequency of said clock generator from a low frequency to a high frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
A temperature control circuit for controlling the temperature of a central processing unit, comprising: a central processing unit; a clock generator for supplying clock pulses to said central processing unit; a power source circuit for supplying a power source voltage to said central processing unit; control means for switching said clock frequency of said clock generator from a high frequency to a low frequency when an external temperature control signal indicates a temperature drop and, after a changeover time of said clock frequency is completed, switching said power source voltage of said power source circuit from a high voltage to a low voltage, and for switching said power source voltage of said power source circuit from a low voltage to a high voltage when said temperature control signal indicates release of a temperature drop and, after a changeover time of said power source voltage is completed, switching said clock frequency of said clock generator from a low frequency to a high frequency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The temperature control circuit defined in claim 4 , wherein said temperature control signal is a signal which notifies whether said central processing unit is driven by a battery or an ac adapter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The temperature control circuit defined in claim 4 , wherein said temperature control signal comprises an output of a register, said register being written by said central processing unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The temperature control circuit defined in claim 4 , wherein said temperature control signal comprises an operation halt signal output to said central processing unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
The temperature control circuit defined claim 4 , wherein said control means comprises: a first timer to which the changeover time of said clock frequency is previously set; and a second timer to which the changeover time of said power source voltage is previously set; wherein said clock frequency is switched based on an output from said first timer and said power source voltage is switched based on an output from said second timer.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of measuring the temperature of a central processing unit, said central processing unit receiving clock pulses output from a clock generator and operating on a power source voltage output from a power source circuit, comprising the steps of: previously storing a reference value of temperature of said central processing unit; measuring the temperature of said central processing unit; comparing a measurement result with the stored reference value; switching a clock frequency from a high frequency to a low frequency when the temperature measurement result is larger than the reference value and, after a changeover time of said clock frequency is completed, switching the power source voltage from a high voltage to a low voltage; and switching the power source voltage from a low voltage to a high voltage when the temperature measurement result is lower than the reference value and, after a changeover time of said power source voltage is completed, switching the clock frequency from a low frequency to a high frequency.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of measuring the temperature of a central processing unit, said central processing unit receiving clock pulses output from a clock generator and operating on a power source voltage output from a power source circuit, comprising the steps of: previously storing a reference value of temperature of said central processing unit; measuring the temperature of said central processing unit; comparing a measurement result with the stored reference value; switching a clock frequency from a high frequency to a low frequency when the temperature measurement result is larger than the reference value and, after a changeover time of said clock frequency is completed, switching the power source voltage from a high voltage to a low voltage; and switching the power source voltage from a low voltage to a high voltage when the temperature measurement result is lower than the reference value and, after a changeover time of said power source voltage is completed, switching the clock frequency from a low frequency to a high frequency.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The temperature control method defined in claim 9 , wherein said switching step comprises steps of: previously setting a first time said clock frequency is changed and a second time said power source voltage is changed; and changing said clock frequency based on said first time and said power source voltage based on said second time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
The temperature control method defined in claim 9 , wherein said switching step comprises steps of: previously setting a third time said clock frequency changes is changed from a high frequency to a first low frequency and a fourth time said clock frequency changes from said first low frequency to a second low frequency is previously set; changing said power source voltage from said high voltage to a first low voltage at the time said third time has passed; and changing said power source voltage from said first low voltage to said second low voltage at the time said fourth time has passed.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of measuring the temperature of a central processing unit, said central processing unit receiving clock pulses output from a clock generator and operating on a power source voltage output from a power source circuit, comprising the steps of: switching said clock frequency from a high frequency to a low frequency when an external temperature control signal indicates a temperature drop and, after a changeover time of said clock frequency is completed, switching said power source voltage from a high voltage to a low voltage; and switching said power source voltage from a low voltage to a high voltage when said temperature control signal indicates release of a temperature drop and, after a changeover time of said power source voltage is completed, switching said clock frequency from a low frequency to a high frequency.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of measuring the temperature of a central processing unit, said central processing unit receiving clock pulses output from a clock generator and operating on a power source voltage output from a power source circuit, comprising the steps of: switching said clock frequency from a high frequency to a low frequency when an external temperature control signal indicates a temperature drop and, after a changeover time of said clock frequency is completed, switching said power source voltage from a high voltage to a low voltage; and switching said power source voltage from a low voltage to a high voltage when said temperature control signal indicates release of a temperature drop and, after a changeover time of said power source voltage is completed, switching said clock frequency from a low frequency to a high frequency.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The temperature control method defined in claim 12 , wherein said temperature control signal is a signal which notifies whether said central processing unit is driven by a battery or an ac adapter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The temperature control method defined in claim 12 , wherein said temperature control signal comprises an output of a register, said register being written by said central processing unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The temperature control method defined in claim 12 , wherein said temperature control signal comprises an operation halt signal output to said central processing unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
The temperature control method defined in claim 12 , wherein said switching step comprises steps of: previously setting a first time said clock frequency is changed and a second time said power source voltage is changed; and changing said clock frequency based on said first time and said power source voltage based on said second time.
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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) | 2006-01-20 | 2006-07-22 | 2007-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-01-20 | 2010-07-22 | 2011-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-01-20 | 2014-07-22 | 2015-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |