Multi-voltage level CPU module

• US 6,314,522 B1
• Filed: 01/13/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acqis LLC (Acqis Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acqis Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, David H. C., Chu, William W. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Application Number:
  US09/229,483
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 713/322, 713/300, 713/310, 713/320, 713/323, 713/330, 713/340, 713/1, 365/226-229, 710/101, 710/102, 710/104, 710/2, 710/8, 710/1, 361/686, 361/683
• US Class Current: 713/322
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means

Abstract

A computer module includes a central processing unit capable of operating at a first performance level and capable of operating at a second performance level in response to configuration signals, and a control logic coupled to the central processing unit for receiving configuration signals and for generating the performance configuration signals, the performance configuration signals comprising a bus clock, a speed multiplier, and an operating voltage, the control logic having a clocked control for receiving the performance configuration signals and in response specifying the speed multiplier, clock configuration signals, and voltage configuration signals, a clock driver coupled to the clocked control logic for receiving the clock configuration signals and in response for outputting the bus clock, and a voltage converter coupled to the clocked control logic for receiving the voltage configuration signals and in response outputting the operating voltage.

Claims

1. A method for configuring performance of a computer module removable from a peripheral console, the method comprising:

attaching the computer module to the peripheral console;

supplying power from the peripheral console to the computer module, such that the computer module receives power only when attached to the peripheral console;

supplying configuration data from the peripheral console to the computer module;

determining performance configuration signals in the computer module in response to the configuration data; and

applying the performance configuration signals to control a performance level of a central processing unit of the computer module.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining performance configuring signals comprises determining speed multiplier signals of the central processing unit.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining performance configuring signals comprises determining a bus clock signal for the central processing unit.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining performance configuration signals comprises determining an operating voltage for the central processing unit.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining performance configuring signals comprises determining a host bus speed.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein determining performance configuring signals comprises determining a voltage identification code.

7. A modular computer system comprising:

a peripheral console including,

a power supply, and

a first controller configured to emit configuration data; and

a computer module receiving power only when attached to the peripheral console, the computer module including,

a configuration control logic configured to receive the configuration data and in response transmit a performance configuration signal, and

a central processing unit configured to receive power only from the power supply and to operate at one of a first performance level and a second performance level in response to the performance configuration signal.

8. A modular computer system according to claim 7 wherein the computer module further comprises a clock driver in communication with the central processing unit, the performance configuration signal comprising a clock signal controlling a speed of operation of the central processing unit.

9. A modular computer system according to claim 8 wherein the computer module further comprises a BIOS, the BIOS configured to receive the configuration data from the peripheral console and to generate additional console configuration data to the configuration control logic.

10. A modular computer system according to claim 7 wherein the computer module further comprises a voltage converter in communication with the power bus and with the central processing unit, the performance configuration signal comprising a voltage identification signal controlling a voltage of operation of the central processing unit.

11. A modular computer system according to claim 7 wherein the computer module further comprises a data bus in communication with the peripheral console and a bus controller in communication with the data bus, the performance configuration signal comprising a bus multiplier signal controlling a speed of operation of the data bus.

12. A modular computer system according to claim 7 wherein the peripheral console further comprises a video bus and the computer module further comprises a graphics controller, the performance configuration signal controlling a format of video output from the graphics controller to the peripheral console across the video bus.

13. A modular computer system according to claim 12 wherein the graphics controller is configured to output a video output signal having one of an analog television signal format, an analog RGB signal format, and a digital video signal format.

14. A modular computer system comprising:

a peripheral console including,

a power supply,

a peripheral interface controller configured to emit configuration data indicative of a type of the peripheral console, and

a display device; and

a computer module removable from the peripheral console wherein the computer module receives power only when attached to the peripheral console, the computer module including,

a central processing unit configured to operate at one of a first performance level and a second performance level in response to the performance configuration signal, and

a graphics controller configured to drive only the display device in response to the configuration data.

15. The modular computer system of claim 14 further comprising a bus configured to carry video signals transmitted from the graphics controller to the display device.

16. The modular computer system of claim 15 wherein:

the video signals comprise analog RGB signals, vertical synchronization signals, and horizontal synchronization signals; and

the display device comprises a color monitor displaying an image only when the computer module is attached to the peripheral console.

17. The modular computer system of claim 15 wherein:

the video signals comprise digital RGB signals, vertical synchronization signals, and horizontal synchronization signals; and

the display device comprises a color flat panel display displaying an image only when the computer module is attached to the peripheral console.

18. The modular computer system of claim 14 wherein:

the computer module further comprises a variable clock frequency driver coupled to the central processing unit, the variable clock frequency driver configured to operate the central processing unit at one of a first clock speed and a second clock speed in response to the configuration signal.

19. The modular computer system of claim 14 wherein:

the computer module further comprises a variable DC to DC voltage converter coupled to the central processing unit, the variable voltage converter configured to operate the central processing unit at one of a first operating voltage and a second operating voltage in response to the configuration signal.

20. A modular computer system comprising:

a peripheral console including,

a power supply,

a peripheral interface controller configured to emit configuration data indicative of a type of the peripheral console,

a user input device; and

a computer module removable from the peripheral console wherein the computer module receives power only when attached to the peripheral console, the computer module including,

a central processing unit configured to operate at one of a first performance level and a second performance level in response to the performance configuration signal, and

an input device controller configured to receive input signals from the user input device in response to the configuration data.

21. The modular computer system of claim 20 wherein:

the computer module further comprises a variable clock frequency driver coupled to the central processing unit, the variable clock frequency driver configured to operate the central processing unit at one of a first clock speed and a second clock speed in response to the configuration signal.

22. The modular computer system of claim 20 wherein:

the computer module further comprises a variable DC to DC voltage converter coupled to the central processing unit, the variable voltage converter configured to operate the central processing unit at one of a first operating voltage and a second operating voltage in response to the configuration signal.