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.

Date of Patent:
Jul. 14, 2015

Filed:

Feb. 28, 2011
Applicants:

Kleanthes G. Koniaris, Palo Alto, CA (US);

James B. Burr, Foster City, CA (US);

Mark Hennecke, Cupertino, CA (US);

Inventors:

Kleanthes G. Koniaris, Palo Alto, CA (US);

James B. Burr, Foster City, CA (US);

Mark Hennecke, Cupertino, CA (US);

Assignee:

Other;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 1/32 (2006.01); G05B 13/02 (2006.01); G06F 1/20 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 1/3203 (2013.01); G06F 1/324 (2013.01); G06F 1/3296 (2013.01); G05B 13/026 (2013.01); G06F 1/206 (2013.01); Y02B 60/1217 (2013.01); Y02B 60/1275 (2013.01); Y02B 60/1285 (2013.01);
Abstract

Methods and systems for operating a semiconductor device (e.g., a microprocessor) are described. The microprocessor is initially operated at a voltage and frequency that would be within operating limits at any device temperature. Using models that relate device temperature, operating limits and power consumption with voltage and frequency, the amount of supply voltage and a new operating frequency can be selected. The models are periodically consulted thereafter to continue adjusting the supply voltage and operating frequency, so that the microprocessor is caused to operate at very close to its capacity, in particular in those instances when, for example, processor-intensive instructions are being executed.


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