Method and apparatus for managing a power load change in a system
First Claim
1. An apparatus in a data processing system, said apparatus comprising:
- a voltage controller having an output and being coupled to receive a signal indicating a level of voltage, and a detector of power change coupled to said voltage controller to provide said signal in response to a change in power level in said data processing system.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for maintaining a state during a power load change. The apparatus of one embodiment includes a voltage controller coupled to receive a signal from a detector of current change. The detector of current change in this embodiment is coupled to detect change in the current level at a microprocessor and signal a voltage controller of such change, which in turn causes a change in the voltage supplied to the microprocessor. An embodiment of the method comprises using a current detector in detecting current change in a microprocessor, determining according to the current change the power level that is needed to be maintained and increasing the voltage level for a predetermined amount of time to compensate for (any) voltage droop. In an alternative embodiment, a change in power is determined before the change occurs and as such determines the power level needed at the microprocessor.
27 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus in a data processing system, said apparatus comprising:
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a voltage controller having an output and being coupled to receive a signal indicating a level of voltage, and a detector of power change coupled to said voltage controller to provide said signal in response to a change in power level in said data processing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for providing a supply of power in a data processing system, said method comprising:
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detecting a change in current drawn by said data processing system;
determining according to the change in current a power level;
increasing a voltage level for a predetermined amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for providing a supply of power in a data processing system, said method comprising:
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programming a microprocessor in said data processing system with instructions to anticipate changes in compute load levels;
determining according to said compute load level the power level needed at the microprocessor;
increasing the voltage level for a predetermined amount of time is response to said determining. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of controlling the operation of a data processing system, said method comprising:
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operating said data processing system at a first operating frequency;
raising a power supply voltage from a first voltage to a second voltage;
operating, after said raising, said data processing system at a second operating frequency which is greater than said first operating frequency. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification