Microprocessor performance mode control utilizing sensed temperature as an indication of microprocessor utilization

• US 20060174146A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Prosperi, Reberto, Hijazi, Mohammed
• Granted Patent: US 7,464,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for controlling microprocessor (CPU) performance modes utilizing sensed temperatures as an indication of CPU utilization. By recognizing that temperature can be used as an indication of CPU utilization, higher performance modes can be entered as temperature increases, and lower performance modes can be entered as temperature decreases.

Claims

1. A method for controlling microprocessor performance modes, comprising:

sensing a temperature related to a microprocessor as an indication of microprocessor utilization;

increasing a performance level for the microprocessor if the sensed temperature rises above a first threshold level; and

decreasing a performance level for the microprocessor if the sensed temperature falls below a second threshold level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor comprises an edge diode temperature sensor and the edge diode temperature sensor is used for the sensing step.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the microprocessor comprises a core temperature sensor, is configured to operate in a high performance mode during normal operations, and is configured to enter a low performance mode if the core temperature sensor exceeds a danger threshold level.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising initially setting the microprocessor in the low performance mode, invoking the high performance mode when the sensed temperature rises above the first threshold level, and returning to the low performance mode if the sensed temperature falls below the second threshold level.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second threshold levels are the same.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second threshold levels are different and the first threshold level is higher than the second threshold level.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the microprocessor has two performance modes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor has three or more performance levels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance levels are controlled by adjusting a clock speed applied to the microprocessor, by adjusting a voltage supply applied to the microprocessor, or by adjusting both.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor has three or more performance levels.

10. An information handling system having microprocessor performance mode control, comprising:

a microprocessor having a plurality of performance levels;

a temperature sensor configured to sense temperatures related to the microprocessor as an indication of microprocessor utilization; and

control circuitry coupled to receive a signal from the temperature sensor and to control the microprocessor performance mode, the control circuitry being configured to increase a performance level for the microprocessor as the sensed temperature rises and to decrease a performance level for the microprocessor as the sensed temperature falls.

11. The information handling system of claim 10, further comprising clock control circuitry coupled to the microprocessor to provide a clock speed input and voltage control circuitry coupled to the microprocessor to provide a voltage supply level input, the clock control circuitry and the voltage control circuitry being configured to receive control input signals from the control circuitry such that performance levels are controlled by adjusting a clock speed applied to the microprocessor, by adjusting a voltage supply applied to the microprocessor, or by adjusting both.

12. The information handling system of claim 10, where the microprocessor comprises performance mode control circuitry configured to set a performance level based upon a control setting, the control setting being adjustable based upon an external control signal., and wherein the control circuitry is coupled to provide the control signal to the microprocessor.

16. The information handling system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry comprises a storage device configured to store BIOS software.

17. The information handling system of claim 10, wherein the microprocessor has two performance modes.

18. The information handling system of claim 17, wherein the first and second threshold levels are the same.

19. The information handling system of claim 17, wherein the first and second threshold levels are different and the first threshold level is higher than the second threshold level.

13. The information handling system of 12, wherein the microprocessor comprises a core temperature sensor, is configured to operate in a high performance mode during normal operations based upon a first control setting, and is configured to enter a low performance mode based upon a second control setting if the core temperature sensor exceeds a danger threshold level.

14. The information handling system of 13, wherein the control circuitry is configured to initially set the microprocessor in the low performance mode, to invoke the high performance mode when the sensed temperature rises above the first threshold level, and to return to the low performance mode if the sensed temperature falls below the second threshold level.

15. The information handling system of claim 14, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a microprocessor edge diode temperature sensor.