Method and system for dynamic power supply voltage adjustment for a semiconductor integrated circuit device

• US 6,947,865 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: Lao, Mau, Mimberg, Ludger, Wagner, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Nghiem, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sun, Xiuqin
• Application Number:
  US10/078,292
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 702/130, 702/64, 702/132, 702/136, 702182-186, 323/277, 307/66, 700/286, 361/104, 326/80, 326/83
• US Class Current: 702/130
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/00 Details of thermometers not specially adapted for particular types of thermometer circuits for reducing thermal inertia G01K7/42

Abstract

A processor power supply voltage controller. The controller includes a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a processor and generate a temperature signal in accordance therewith. A regulator is coupled to provide a power supply voltage to the processor. The regulator is coupled to receive the temperature signal and control the power supply voltage to maintain a substantially stable crosstalk level within the processor.

Claims

1. A processor power supply voltage controller comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a processor and generate a temperature signal in accordance therewith; and

a regulator coupled to provide a power supply voltage to the processor, the regulator coupled to receive the temperature signal and control the power supply voltage, wherein the regulator controls the power supply voltage to maintain a substantially stable crosstalk level within the processor.

2. The controller of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor further comprises a negative temperature coefficient resistor.

3. The controller of claim 2 further comprising:

a feedback circuit coupled to the negative temperature coefficient resistor, the feedback circuit configured to generate the temperature signal for the regulator.

4. The controller of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor further comprises a thermal diode circuit.

5. The controller of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is configured to sense the temperature of the processor by sensing a temperature of a heat sink coupled to the processor.

6. The controller of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is configured to sense the temperature of the processor by sensing a temperature of an enclosure including the processor.

7. The controller of claim 1 wherein the temperature sensor is configured to sense the temperature of the processor by sensing a die temperature of the processor.

8. A system for maintaining a crosstalk level within a processor over a variable temperature range, said system comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a processor and generate a temperature signal in accordance therewith; and

a regulator coupled to provide a power supply voltage to the processor, the regulator coupled to receive the temperature signal and control the power supply voltage, wherein the regulator controls the power supply voltage to maintain a substantially stable crosstalk level within the processor.

9. A system as described in claim 8 wherein said processor is a semiconductor integrated circuit.

10. A system as described in claim 9 wherein said processor is a central processing unit.

11. A system as described in claim 9 wherein said processor is a graphics processing unit.

12. A system as described in claim 8 wherein said temperature sensor is a negative thermal coefficient (NTC) resistor coupled in feedback to said regulator.

13. A system as described in claim 8 wherein said temperature sensor is a thermistor.

14. A system as described in claim 8 wherein said regulator is a switch mode power supply circuit.

15. A system as described in claim 8 wherein said temperature sensor, said regulator and said electronic device are all mounted on a common electronic PC board.

16. An electronic system comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a processor and generate a temperature signal in accordance therewith; and

a regulator coupled to provide a power supply voltage to the processor the regulator coupled to receive the temperature signal and control the power supply voltage to maintain a substantially stable crosstalk level within the processor.

17. A system as described in claim 16 wherein said regulator, in response to said temperature, increases said power supply voltage when said temperature increases and wherein said regulator, in response to said temperature, decreases said power supply voltage when said temperature decreases.

18. A system as described in claim 17 wherein said processor is a central processing unit.

19. A system as described in claim 17 wherein said processor is a graphics processing unit.

20. A system as described in claim 19 wherein said temperature sensor is a negative thermal coefficient (NTC) resistor coupled in feedback to said regulator.

21. A system as described in claim 19 wherein said temperature sensor is a thermistor.

22. A system as described in claim 19 wherein said regulator is a switch mode power supply circuit.

23. A system as described in claim 19 wherein said temperature sensor, said regulator and said processor are all mounted on a common electronic printed circuit board.