System and method for synchronizing multiple variable-frequency clock generators
First Claim
1. A central processing unit (CPU) that includes multiple clock zones, said CPU comprising:
- in each clock zone,at least one sensor that generates a signal indicative of a power supply voltage within said clock zone;
a clock generator for providing a variable frequency clock to said clock zone;
a first controller for controlling a frequency of operation of said clock generator in response to said at least one sensor, wherein said first controller further controls said frequency of operation in response to communication of frequency adjustments from first controllers in other clock zones within one cycle of latency; and
a second controller that provides an overdrive signal, that is combined with adjustment signals from said first controller for said clock generator, in response to communication of frequency adjustments from other clock zones beyond one cycle of latency.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a central processing unit (CPU) includes multiple clock zones. Each clock zone includes at least one sensor that generates a signal indicative of a power supply voltage within the clock zone, a clock generator for providing a variable frequency clock to the clock zone, a first controller for controlling a frequency of operation of the clock generator in response to the at least one sensor, wherein the first controller further controls the frequency of operation in response to communication of frequency adjustments from first controllers in other clock zones within one cycle of latency, and a second controller that provides an overdrive signal, that is combined with adjustment signals from the first controller for the clock generator, in response to communication of frequency adjustments from other clock zones beyond one cycle of latency.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A central processing unit (CPU) that includes multiple clock zones, said CPU comprising:
in each clock zone, at least one sensor that generates a signal indicative of a power supply voltage within said clock zone; a clock generator for providing a variable frequency clock to said clock zone; a first controller for controlling a frequency of operation of said clock generator in response to said at least one sensor, wherein said first controller further controls said frequency of operation in response to communication of frequency adjustments from first controllers in other clock zones within one cycle of latency; and a second controller that provides an overdrive signal, that is combined with adjustment signals from said first controller for said clock generator, in response to communication of frequency adjustments from other clock zones beyond one cycle of latency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for operating a central processing unit (CPU) that includes multiple clock zones, said method comprising:
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generating a respective variable frequency clock for each clock zone; operating a sensor in each clock zone to generate a signal indicative of a power supply voltage within each respective clock zone; adjusting, by a first controller, said respective variable frequency clock in each clock zone in response to said signal generated by said sensor; adjusting, by said first controller, said respective variable frequency clock in each clock zone in response to communication of frequency adjustments in other clock zones within one cycle of latency; and adjusting, by a second controller, said respective variable frequency clock by generating an overdrive signal, that is combined with adjustment signals from said first clock controller, in response to communication of frequency adjustments from other clock zones beyond one cycle of latency. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A central processing unit (CPU) that includes multiple clock zones, said CPU comprising:
in each clock zone, at least one sensor means for generating a signal indicative of a power supply voltage within said clock zone; clock means for providing a variable frequency clock to said clock zone; first controller means for controlling a frequency of operation of said clock means in response to said at least one sensor means, wherein said first controller means further controls said frequency of operation in response to communication of frequency adjustments from first controllers means in other clock zones within one cycle of latency; and second controller for generating an overdrive signal, that is combined with adjustment signals from said first controller means for said clock means, in response to communication of frequency adjustments from other clock zones beyond one cycle of latency. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification