Computer device power management system and method

• US 20080104436A1
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sawyers, Thomas P., Barlow, Dallas M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• 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: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A computer device power management system comprises a controller configured to throttle a processor of a computer device responsive to an overcurrent condition associated with a power source powering the computer device, the controller configured to adjust a power state of the processor to at least one of a plurality of predetermined power states based on a level of the throttle.

Claims

1. A computer device power management system, comprising:

a controller configured to throttle a processor of a computer device responsive to an overcurrent condition associated with a power source powering the computer device, the controller configured to adjust a power state of the processor to at least one of a plurality of predetermined power states based on a level of the throttle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to decrement the processor to at least one of the plurality of predetermined power states if the level of the throttle increases beyond a predetermined threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to limit a quantity of power state transitions of the processor during a predetermined time period.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate an averaged overcurrent protection signal indicative of the level of the throttle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to decrement the processor to at least one of the plurality of predetermined power states if the averaged overcurrent protection signal increases above a predetermined threshold.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to increment the processor to at least one of the plurality of predetermined power states in response to a decreased level of the throttle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the power state after expiration of a timer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a control circuit configured to determine the level of the throttle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a control circuit configured to generate an averaged overcurrent protection signal indicative of the level of the throttle.

10. A computer device power management method, comprising:

throttling a processor of a computer device in response to an overcurrent condition associated with a power source powering the computer device; and

adjusting a power state of the processor to at least one of a plurality of predetermined power states based on a level of the throttle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating an averaged overcurrent protection signal indicative of the level of the throttle.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting comprises decrementing the processor to at least one of the plurality of predetermined power states if the level of the throttle increases beyond a predetermined threshold.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising limiting a quantity of power state transitions of the processor during a predetermined time period.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting comprises decrementing the processor to at least one of the plurality of predetermined power states if an averaged overcurrent protection signal indicative of the level of the throttle exceeds a predetermined threshold.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting comprises incrementing the processor to at least one of the plurality of predetermined power states in response to a decreased level of the throttle.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting comprises adjusting the power state of the processor after expiration of a timer.

17. A computer device power management system, comprising:

means for throttling a processor means of a computer means in response to an overcurrent condition associated with a power means powering the computer means; and

means for adjusting a power state of the processor means to at least one of a plurality of predetermined power states based on a level of the throttling.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for generating an averaged overcurrent protection signal indicative of the level of the throttling.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the adjusting means comprises means for decrementing the processor means to at least one of the plurality of predetermined power states if the level of the throttling increases beyond a predetermined threshold.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the adjusting means comprises means for incrementing the processor means to at least one of the plurality of predetermined power states in response to a decreased level of the throttling.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for limiting a quantity of power state transitions of the processor means during a predetermined time period.

22. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon an instruction set to be executed, the instruction set, when executed, causes:

throttling of a processor of a computer device responsive to an overcurrent condition associated with a power source powering the computer device, the controller configured to adjust a power state of the processor to at least one of a plurality of predetermined power states based on a level of the throttle.