Thermal and power management for computer systems

• US 20070118774A1
• Filed: 01/17/2007
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan Thomas, C Thomas
• Original Assignee: Alan Thomas, C Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, C., Thomas, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,293,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3237 by disabling clock generation or distribution
• 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: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Improved approaches to providing thermal and power management for a computing device are disclosed. These approaches facilitate intelligent control of a processor'"'"'s clock frequency and/or a fan'"'"'s speed so as to provide thermal and/or power management for the computing device.

Claims

1. A method for operating a computing device to provide thermal management, the computing device having a processor for performing instructions, and the computing device being capable of controlling a fan, said method comprising:

operating the processor to process instructions;

obtaining a plurality of temperature indications of the processor;

activating the fan to a first speed when one or more of the temperature indications indicate that primary thermal management is required;

subsequently increasing the speed of the fan to a second speed when one or more of the temperature indications indicate that primary thermal management is still required even after the fan has been activated at the first speed, the second speed being greater than the first speed; and

thereafter reducing performance of the processor when one or more of the temperature indications indicate that supplemental thermal management is required even after the fan has been activated.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing device is a portable computer.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor can enter a reduced power mode, and

wherein said method further comprises deactivating the fan when the processor enters a reduced power mode.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the reduced power mode includes at least a sleep state.

5. A method as recited in claim 1,

wherein said method further comprises determining an activity indication of the processor, and

wherein the performance of the processor is also controlled based on the activity indication of the processor.

6. A method as recited in claim 5,

wherein the speed of the fan is also controlled based on the activity indication of the processor.

7. A method as recited in claim 1,

wherein said method further comprises determining an activity indication of the processor, and

wherein the speed of the fan is also controlled based on the activity indication of the processor.

8. A method as recited in claim 7,

wherein the temperature indication is obtained via a temperature sensor,

wherein the activity indication is obtained via an activity detector, and

wherein the temperature sensor and the activity detector are internal to the processor.

9. A method for operating a computing device, the computing device having a processor for performing instructions, and the computing device being capable of controlling a fan, said method comprising:

operating the processor to process instructions;

obtaining a plurality of temperature indications of the processor;

activating the fan to a first speed and subsequently increasing the speed of the fan to a second speed in view of one or more of the temperature indications obtained, so as to provide a first thermal management; and

thereafter reducing performance of the processor when at least one subsequent temperature indication obtained indicates that a second thermal management is required even after the fan has been activated.

10. A method for determining an operational speed for a processor of a computer, said method comprising:

configuring the computer to utilize a first power management policy when the computer is powered by a battery;

configuring the computer to utilize a second power management policy when the computer is not powered by a battery; and

setting an operational speed of the processor based on the appropriate one of the first and second power management policies that have been configured.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the first and second power management policies include at least one condition based on a temperature of the processor.

12. A method as recited in claim 10,

wherein the first power management policy pertains to operating the computer in a portable mode, and

wherein the second power management policy pertains to operating the computer in a desktop mode.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the computer further includes a fan for cooling at least the processor, and

wherein said method further comprises setting an operational speed for the fan based on the appropriate one of the first and second power management policies.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said setting of the operational speed of the fan comprises controlling the operational speed of the fan using pulse width modulation.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein each of the first and second power management policies includes conditions concerning an operational speed of the processor and an operational speed of the fan.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first and second power management policies include at least one condition based on a temperature of the processor.

17. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

monitoring a temperature of the processor; and

setting the operational speed for the processor based on the appropriate one of the first and second power management policies and based on the temperature of the processor.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the computer further includes a fan for cooling at least the processor, and wherein said method further comprises setting an operational speed of the fan based on the appropriate one of the first and second power management policies.

19. A method as recited in claim 18,

wherein each of the first and second power management policies includes conditions concerning the operational speed of the processor and the operational speed of the fan, and

wherein the first and second power management policies include at least one condition based on a temperature of the processor.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said setting of the operational speed of the fan comprises controlling the operational speed of the fan using pulse width modulation.