Intel Corporation

Benson D Inkley

Robert J Greiner

Edward Allyn Burton

Jeremy J Shrall

Anant S Deval

Hung-Piao Ma

Douglas Robert Huard

Arun R Ramadorai

Nathan C Schultz

Martin M Chang

Stephen H Gunther

Michael T Zhang

James S Dinh

Tawfik Arabi

Peter T Li

Gregory M Iovino

Laxmi Vishwanathan

Matthew C Reilly

Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for technology that determines an efficient temperature of a processor based on real-time data and one or more part-specific parameters associated with the processor, determines a set of power differences between other temperatures and the efficient temperature, and stores the set of power differences to a register. In one example, a cooling subsystem is controlled based on the set of power differences in the register.

Processor power optimization in terms of system cooling overhead

Methods and apparatuses provide voltage regulation for a processor. Control or configuration parameters for a voltage regulator (VR) are provided digitally over a configuration bus to a VR controller. The parameters may be provided directly from a storage element, or via a processing element or processor core. Based in whole or in part on the parameters, the VR controller provides an output control signal to affect a power output from a power converter to the processing element. In one embodiment, the VR controller is integrated onto the same IC as the processing element.

Power control unit with digitally supplied system parameters

Techniques for a processor temperature control interface. In one embodiment, a processor includes a bidirectional interface and output logic to assert a first signal indicating an internal high temperature on the bidirectional interface. Throttling logic throttles operations of the processor if either the internal high temperature is indicated or if an external signal is received on the bidirectional interface.

Processor temperature control interface

An on-die temperature control variable is provided to throttle a thermal actuator for cooling an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a storage element to hold the temperature control variable. A temperature sensor is thermally coupled to the integrated circuit to sense an operating temperature of the integrated circuit. A thermal controller is communicatively coupled to the storage element and to the temperature sensor. The thermal controller throttles the thermal actuator when the temperature sensor indicates that the operating temperature of the integrated circuit is below the temperature control variable.

On-die temperature control data for communicating to a thermal actuator

A system and method for automatically adjusting microprocessor activity following thermal stress of a voltage regulator is disclosed. A thermal monitoring circuit determines whether the voltage regulator has exceeded a predetermined temperature. The thermal monitoring circuit may employ a temperature-sensing component such as a thermistor to determine the temperature or may derive the temperature indirectly, based on the average input (or output) current. When the over-temperature condition occurs, a signal activates the PROCHOT#, or similar, pin on a microprocessor, throttling the microprocessor clock. Where the microprocessor includes no internal power-reducing feature, the signal throttles an external clock coupled to the microprocessor. In either case, execution of the microprocessor is slowed down. At all times, the voltage regulator maintains the ability to supply continuous current to the microprocessor.

Control of voltage regulator thermal condition

Growing community of inventors

North Plains, OR, United States of America

Benson D Inkley