Thermal and power management for computer systems

• US 20070250729A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan Thomas, C Thomas
• Original Assignee: Alan Thomas, C Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, Alan, Thomas, C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,506,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/322
• 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 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.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second power management policies include at least one condition based on a temperature of the processor.

3. A method as recited in claim 1,

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.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, 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.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said setting of the operational speed of the fan comprises controlling the operational speed of the fan using pulse width modulation.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, 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.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the first and second power management policies include at least one condition based on a temperature of the processor.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, 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.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, 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.

10. A method as recited in claim 9,

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.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said setting of the operational speed of the fan comprises controlling the operational speed of the fan using pulse width modulation.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the computer is a portable computer.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer is a portable computer.

14. A computer, comprising:

a battery for providing power source;

a processor configured to operate at an operational speed; and

a power management module configured (i) to operate said processor in accordance with a first power management policy when said computer is being powered by said battery, and (ii) to operates said processor in accordance with a second power management policy when said computer is not being powered by said battery.

15. A computer as recited in claim 14, wherein said computer further comprises:

a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of said processor, and

wherein said power management module is further configured to control the operational speed for said processor based on the appropriate one of the first and second power management policies and based on the temperature of said processor.

16. A computer as recited in claim 15, wherein said computer further comprises:

a fan for cooling at least said processor, and

wherein said computer is further configured to control an operational speed of said fan based on the appropriate one of the first and second power management policies.

17. A computer as recited in claim 16, wherein said power management module of said computer controls the operational speed of said fan based on the appropriate one of the first and second power management policies.

18. A computer as recited in claim 16,

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

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

19. A computer as recited in claim 18, wherein the operational speed of said fan is controlled using pulse width modulation.

20. A computer as recited in claim 19, wherein said computer is a portable computer.