Methods and apparatuses for dynamic power control

• US 20070049134A1
• Filed: 01/05/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Culbert, Michael, Cox, Keith, Conroy, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,662,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/894
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• 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 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to provide a cooling arrangement for a system are described. The system includes a component coupled to a heat sink. A signal associated with a temperature control of the component is asserted. A target temperature of the heat sink is adjusted based on the signal. In one embodiment, a temperature control loop of the heat sink is operated. The temperature of the heat sink may be monitored using one or more sensors placed on the heat sink. An operation of the component, a cooling unit coupled to the heat sink, or both, may be adjusted based on a relationship between the temperature of the heat sink and an adjusted target temperature. Adjusting the target temperature of the heat sink based on the asserted signal increases efficiency of the system while decreasing cooling.

Claims

1. A method to adjust a temperature of a system, comprising:

receiving a signal associated with a temperature control of a component of a system; and

adjusting a target temperature of a component of the system based on the signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises

decreasing the target temperature if the signal is asserted for longer than a predetermined fraction of time over a predetermined time interval.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting comprises

increasing the target temperature if the signal is asserted for shorter than a predetermined fraction of time over a predetermined time interval.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal indicates that a temperature of the component exceeds a threshold value for the component.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprises

operating a temperature control loop of the system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the operating comprises

monitoring a temperature of the system;

and

adjusting an operation of the component, a cooling system, or both based on a relationship between a monitored temperature of the system and an adjusted target temperature of the system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising

increasing a temperature of the system to receive the signal associated with the temperature control of the component;

measuring the temperature of the system; and

determining a difference between a measured temperature of the system and a maximum temperature of the component.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising

setting a baseline target temperature of the system based on the difference.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising

setting tolerance parameters based on the difference.

10. A method to set a target temperature of a heat sink, comprising

monitoring a temperature of a heat sink;

receiving an assertion of a signal associated with a temperature control of a component coupled to the heat sink;

adjusting a target temperature of the heat sink based on the signal; and

adjusting an operation of a component, a cooling unit coupled to the heat sink, or both based on a relationship between a monitored temperature of the heat sink and an adjusted target temperature of the heat sink.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting the operation of the component includes changing a frequency of the component, a voltage of the component, or both.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting the cooling unit includes changing a speed of a fan.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting the target temperature comprises

decreasing the target temperature if the signal is asserted for longer than a predetermined fraction of time over a predetermined time interval.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting the target temperature comprises

increasing the target temperature if the signal is asserted for shorter than a predetermined fraction of time over a predetermined time interval.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal indicates that a temperature of the component exceeds a threshold value for the component.

16. A method, comprising:

increasing a temperature of a heat sink until a signal associated with a temperature control of a component coupled to a heat sink is asserted;

measuring the temperature of the heat sink; and

determining a difference between a measured temperature of the heat sink and a maximum temperature of the component.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising

setting a baseline target temperature of the heat sink based on the difference.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising

setting tolerance parameters based on the difference.

19. A data processing system, comprising:

a component;

a heat sink coupled to the component;

a sensor coupled to the heat sink; and

a thermal controller coupled to the component, wherein the thermal controller is to receive a signal associated with a temperature control of the component and to adjust a target temperature of the heat sink based on the signal.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the thermal controller adjusts the target temperature by

decreasing the target temperature if the signal is asserted for longer than a predetermined fraction of time over a predetermined time interval.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the thermal controller adjusts the target temperature by

increasing the target temperature if the signal is asserted for shorter than a predetermined fraction of time over a predetermined time interval.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the thermal controller operates a temperature control loop of the heat sink.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the thermal controller increases a temperature of the heat sink to receive the signal associated with the temperature control of the component, measures the temperature of the heat sink, and determines a difference between a measured temperature of the heat sink and a maximum temperature of the component.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the thermal controller sets a baseline target temperature of the heat sink based on the difference.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the thermal controller sets tolerance parameters based on the difference.

26. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible medium including executable program instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

receiving a signal associated with a temperature control of a component of a system; and

adjusting a target temperature of a component of the system based on the signal.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the adjusting comprises

decreasing the target temperature if the signal is asserted for longer than a predetermined fraction of time over a predetermined time interval.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the adjusting comprises

increasing the target temperature if the signal is asserted for shorter than a predetermined fraction of time over a predetermined time interval.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the signal indicates that a temperature of the component exceeds a threshold value for the component.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the machine-accessible medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations, comprising,

operating a temperature control loop of the system.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 30, wherein the operating comprises

monitoring a temperature of the system;

and

adjusting an operation of the component, a cooling system coupled to the component, or both based on a relationship between a monitored temperature of the system and an adjusted target temperature of the system.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the machine-accessible medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations, comprising,

increasing a temperature of the heat sink to receive the signal associated with the temperature control of the component;

measuring the temperature of the heat sink; and

determining a difference between a measured temperature of the heat sink and a maximum temperature of the component.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 32, wherein the machine-accessible medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations, comprising,

setting a baseline target temperature of the heat sink based on the difference.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 32, wherein the machine-accessible medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations, comprising,

setting tolerance parameters based on the difference.

35. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible medium including executable program instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

monitoring a temperature of a heat sink;

receiving an assertion of a signal associated with a temperature control of a component coupled to the heat sink;

adjusting a target temperature of the heat sink based on the signal; and

adjusting an operation of a component, a cooling unit coupled to the heat sink, or both based on a relationship between a monitored temperature of the heat sink and an adjusted target temperature of the heat sink.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 35, wherein the adjusting the operation of the component includes changing a frequency of the component, a voltage of the component, or both.

37. The article of manufacture of claim 35, wherein the adjusting the cooling unit includes changing a speed of a fan.

38. The article of manufacture of claim 35, wherein the adjusting the target temperature comprises

decreasing the target temperature if the signal is asserted for longer than a predetermined fraction of time over a predetermined time interval.

39. The article of manufacture of claim 35, wherein the adjusting the target temperature comprises

increasing the target temperature if the signal is asserted for shorter than a predetermined fraction of time over a predetermined time interval.

40. article of manufacture comprising:

a machine-accessible medium including executable program instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

increasing a temperature of a heat sink until a signal associated with a temperature control of a component is asserted;

measuring the temperature of the heat sink; and

determining a difference between a measured temperature of the heat sink and a maximum temperature of the component.

41. The article of manufacture of claim 40, wherein the machine-accessible medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations, comprising,

setting a baseline target temperature of the heat sink based on the difference.

42. The article of manufacture of claim 40, wherein the machine-accessible medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations, comprising

setting tolerance parameters based on the difference.

43. A system, comprising:

means for receiving a signal associated with a temperature control of a component of the system; and

means for adjusting a target temperature of the system based on the signal.

44. A system, comprising:

means for monitoring a temperature of a heat sink;

means for asserting a signal associated with a temperature control of a component coupled to the heat sink;

means for adjusting a target temperature of the heat sink based on the signal; and

means for adjusting an operation of a component, a cooling unit coupled to the heat sink, or both based on a relationship between a monitored temperature of the heat sink and an adjusted target temperature of the heat sink.

45. A system, comprising:

means for increasing a temperature of a heat sink until a signal associated with a temperature control of a component is asserted;

means for measuring the temperature of the heat sink; and

means for determining a difference between a measured temperature of the heat sink and a maximum temperature of the component.