The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 19, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 11, 1996
Kevin L Miller, Austin, TX (US);
Stuart W Hayes, Austin, TX (US);
Dell USA, L.P., Round Rock, TX (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a computer system which electronically and automatically detects the maximum rated operating frequency of a microprocessor installed in the computer system. The present invention also electronically and automatically detects, selects and generates a 'common' external/internal operating clock frequency in a multiprocessor system when more than one microprocessor is installed in the computer system. More particularly, a computer system is disclosed which includes at least one microprocessor and a main memory coupled to each microprocessor. Each microprocessor includes an electronic stamp with a value of a maximum rated operating frequency for the microprocessor written therein. The computer system includes a clock generating section for electronically detecting the value of the maximum rated operating frequency of the each microprocessor and for selecting and generating an operating frequency for the computer system. In one embodiment of the present invention, the electronic stamp on each microprocessor includes a nonvolatile memory module, such as an electrically erasable reprogrammable nonvolatile memory, coupled to each microprocessor with the value of the maximum rated operating frequency of the microprocessor stored in, for example, a register. In another embodiment of the present invention, the electronic stamp on each microprocessor includes an encoded strapping circuit integrated into each microprocessor which provides the value of the maximum rated operating frequency in an electronically coded form, such as pins on the microprocessor with a coded setup.