Texas Instruments Corporation

Dell Products Inc.

LaVaughn F Watts, Jr

Steven J Wallace

Gary Joseph Verdun

Thomas R Grimm

Randall E Juenger

John Charles Linn

Kevin D Davis

Ronald L Smith

Robert E Tonsing

Hermon L Pope, Jr

Tom Grimm

Robert R Moore

Larry D Mitcham

Howard A Shoobe

James H Leftwich

Mark A Rendon

William F Jergens

Ross D Steiner

An apparatus having a processing unit and a monitor for monitoring activity associated with said processing unit. The monitor enables selective lowering of the frequency of clock signals, or stopping and starting of clock signals, being received by said processing unit in response to a changing level of activity associated with said processing unit.

Processor having real-time power conservation

A method for detecting temperature associated with a processor, results of the detecting being used for controlling power dissipation associated with the processor and/or apparatus and/or system employing the same.

Method for implementing thermal management in a processor and/or apparatus and/or system employing the same

A method for providing power conservation in a processor in which, depending on the respective embodiment, a relative amount of idle time, activity time, or idle time and activity time associated with the processor are measured or detected, results of the measuring being used by the processor for controlling a clock speed. Yet other embodiments disclose, depending upon the respective embodiment, a relative amount of Input/Output (I/O), relative importance of Input/Output (I/O), and/or relative amount of time between Input/Output (I/O), associated with the processor are measured, results of the measuring being used by the processor to control power dissipation associated with the processor.

Method for providing real-time power conservation in a processor

The present invention provides a solution to the dual problems of mobility and portability associated with using a portable telephone in combination with a portable computer. A portable computer () has an interface () that facilitates a direct connection to a portable telephone (). The interface () electrically connects the portable telephone () to the portable computer () thus eliminating the need for a cable or tethered connection between the portable computer () and a portable telephone (). In one embodiment of the invention, the portable telephone () is constructed to fit within a cavity () in the portable computer (). When fully inserted into the computer (), the portable telephone () is physically connected to the portable computer () by a latching mechanism and communicates with the portable computer by means of a computer/portable telephone interface (that electrically connects the portable telephone to the portable computer). In another embodiment of the invention, the portable telephone serves as the portable computer's modem and function while installed in the computer. Thus, the portable phone facilitates the transmission and reception of data between the portable computer and another computer connected to the telephone system. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the portable computer (and not the portable telephone), contains the modem that is utilized for telephonic data communications. In still another embodiment of the invention, a modem may be omitted altogether for data communications in a completely digital telephone network. An operator of the portable computer/portable telephone also has the option of using the portable telephone for voice transmission independently of the computer, or may enjoy hands free voice operation by using the portable computer's internal speaker and microphone.

Portable computer having an interface for direct connection to a mobile telephone

A method for controlling power consumption associated with a processor in which, depending on the respective embodiment, a relative amount of idle time, activity time, or idle time and activity time associated with the processor are measured or detected, results of the measuring being used by the processor for controlling a clock speed.

Method for controlling power consumption associated with a processor

A processor, comprising a monitor for, depending on the respective embodiment, measuring a relative amount of idle time, activity time, or idle time and activity time associated with the processor, results of the measuring being used by the processor for controlling a clock speed. Yet other embodiments disclose, depending upon the respective embodiment, a processor, comprising a monitor for measuring the relative amount of Input/Output (I/O), relative importance of Input/Output (I/O), and/or relative amount of time between Input/Output (I/O), associated with the processor, results of the measuring being used by the processor to control power dissipation associated with the processor.

A real-time thermal management apparatus and method for a computer employs a monitor () to determine whether a CPU may rest based upon real-time sampling of temperature levels and CPU activity levels within the computer. The monitor activates a hardware selector to carry out the monitor's determination. If the monitor determines the CPU may rest, the hardware selector reduces CPU clock time; if the CPU is to be active, the hardware selector returns the CPU to its previous high speed clock level. Switching back into full operation from its rest state occurs without a user having to request it and without any delay in the operation of the computer while waiting for the computer to return to a 'ready' state. Furthermore, the monitor () adjusts the performance level of the computer in response to the real-time sampling of CPU activity and temperature levels. Such adjustments are accomplished within the CPU cycles and do not affect the user's perception of performance and do not affect any system application software executing on the computer.

Real-time thermal management for computers

A processor, comprising a monitor for, depending on the respective embodiment, measuring the relative amount of idle time, activity time, or idle time and activity time within the processor, results of the measuring being used by the processor for controlling a clock speed of the processor. Yet other embodiments disclose, depending upon the respective embodiment, a processor, comprising a monitor for measuring the relative amount of idle time, activity time or idle time and activity time within the processor, results of the measuring being used by the processor to control power dissipation associated with the processor.

A processor, comprising a monitor for measuring the relative amount of idle time within the processor, results of the measuring being used by the processor, depending upon the respective embodiment, to modify processor clock speed in response to a utilization percentage of the processor being below a preselected level, or to modify a clock speed of the processor to control a utilization percentage of the processor. Another embodiment discloses a processor, comprising a monitor for measuring the relative amount of idle time within the processor, results of the measuring being used by the processor for providing a signal for circuitry for controlling periods of time a processor clock is in an OFF state, the length of the periods of time said clock is in an OFF state being appropriate to allow the processor to operate at an efficient utilization percentage.

Customer requirements for portable computers are grouped into logical functional groupings, which are further grouped into logical bandwidth levels. On the notebook side, all required signals for a specific logical functional grouping are combined into a single carrier with the necessary bandwidth for the signals within the logical bandwidth level. This combined signal is then passed through a docking connector. The individual signals are regenerated on the docking solution side of the connector. Logic on both the notebook and docking solution sides of the connector enables the respective devices to identify which carrier bandwidths are supported on both sides of the docking connector and settle on the greatest common denominator. Additionally, the signals combined into the carrier can be programmed, in which case the docking solution and the notebook negotiate the features that are and are not supported in each individual case.

Scalable docking architecture to support various bandwidth

A method and apparatus of connecting an active computing device ( ) to an active peripheral option ( ) comprising the steps of making a physical connection ( ) between the device ( ) and the option ( ) wherein the option ( ) is communicably linked ( ) to one or more peripheral devices ( ). A system interrupt signal is generated ( ) and detected ( ) by the system processor ( ) causing all activity along the connection path between the device ( ) and the option ( ) to be suspended ( ).

Apparatus and method of connecting and interfacing active device components

A processor, comprising a monitor for measuring the relative amount of Input/Output (I/O) within the processor, results of the measuring being used by the processor for controlling a clock speed of the processor. Another embodiment discloses a processor, comprising a monitor for measuring the relative importance of Input/Output (I/O) within the processor, results of the measuring being used by the processor for controlling a clock speed of said processor. Still another embodiment discloses a processor, comprising a monitor for measuring the relative amount of time between Input/Output (I/O) within the processor, results of the measuring being used by the processor for controlling a clock speed of the processor.

A method and apparatus for allowing hot docking of a portable computer ( ) into a docking station ( ) comprising the steps of making a physical connection (210) between the computer ( ) and the docking station ( ) wherein the docking station ( ) is communicably linked ( ) to one or more peripheral devices ( ). A system interrupt signal is generated ( ) and detected ( ) by the system processor ( ) causing all activity along the connection path between the computer ( ) and the docking station ( ) to be suspended ( ).

Growing community of inventors

Temple, TX, United States of America

LaVaughn F Watts, Jr