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:
Nov. 17, 2009
Filed:
May. 14, 2008
Corey K. Barrows, Colchester, VT (US);
Douglas W. Kemerer, Essex Junction, VT (US);
Douglas W. Stout, Milton, VT (US);
Peter A. Twombly, Shelbarne, VT (US);
Corey K. Barrows, Colchester, VT (US);
Douglas W. Kemerer, Essex Junction, VT (US);
Douglas W. Stout, Milton, VT (US);
Peter A. Twombly, Shelbarne, VT (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a system for controlling power supply voltage to an on-chip power distribution network. The system incorporates a programmable on-chip sensing network that can be selectively connected to the power distribution network at multiple locations. When the sensing network is selectively connected to the power distribution network at an optimal sensing point, a local voltage feedback signal from that optimal sensing point is generated and used to adjust the power supply voltage and, thus, to manage voltage distribution across the power distribution network. Additionally, the system incorporates a policy for managing the voltage distribution across the power distribution network, a means for profiling voltage drops across the power distribution network and a means for selecting the optimal sensing point based on the policy and the profile. Another embodiment of the system can further control power supply voltages to multiple power distribution networks on the same chip.