Method, system, and apparatus for dynamic clock adjustment

• US 7,818,595 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Stanford, Edward, Kern, Frank William
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US11/479,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20080005597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/310, 713320-324, 713/330, 713/340
• US Class Current: 713/322
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/24 Marginal checking or other specified testing methods not covered by G06F11/26, e.g. race tests

Abstract

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and system, the method including, in some embodiments, determining an impedance of a power distribution network of a load for a range of frequencies, and adjusting a functionality of the load based on a relationship between the impedance of the power distribution network for the range of frequencies and the functionality of the load.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an impedance of a power distribution network of a load for a range of frequencies; and

adjusting a functionality of the load based on a relationship between the determined impedance of the power distribution network for the range of frequencies and the functionality of the load.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the functionality includes an operating frequency of the load.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is performed automatically upon a power-on of the load.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the impedance of the power distribution network includes measuring a voltage and a current for each frequency of the range of frequencies for the power distribution network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the range of frequencies is based on an operational specification of the load.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the load includes a clock mechanism to control an operating frequency of the load.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the load is at least one of a microprocessor, a multi-core microprocessor, a core of a multi-core microprocessor, an electronic load that operates as a function of a power distribution impedance, and combinations thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determining is performed automatically upon a power-on of the load.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a variable frequency generator to generate a signal at a plurality of frequencies;

a current sensor to sense a current;

a voltage sensor to sense a voltage; and

a controller to determine an impedance of a power distribution network, wherein the controller is operative to;

determine an impedance of a power distribution network for a range of frequencies; and

adjust a functionality of the load based on a relationship between the determined impedance of the power distribution network for the range of frequencies and the functionality of the load.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adjusted functionality includes an operating frequency of the load.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a voltage and a current are measured for each frequency of the range of frequencies for the power distribution network.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the range of frequencies is based on an operational specification of the load.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the load includes a clock mechanism to control an operating frequency of the load.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the load is at least one of a microprocessor, a multi-core microprocessor, a core of a multi-core microprocessor, an electronic load that operates as a function of a power distribution impedance, and combinations thereof.

15. A computer storage medium having program instructions embodied thereon, the medium comprising:

program instructions to determine an impedance of a power distribution network for a range of frequencies; and

program instructions to adjust a functionality of the load based on a relationship between the determined power distribution impedance for the range of frequencies and the functionality of the load.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the functionality includes an operating frequency of the load.

17. The medium of claim 15, further comprising program instructions to performed the determining automatically upon a power-on of the load.

18. The medium of claim 15, wherein the determining of the impedance of the power distribution network for a range of frequencies includes measuring a voltage and a current for each frequency of the range of frequencies for the power distribution network.

19. The medium of claim 15, wherein the range of frequencies is based on an operational specification of the load.

20. The medium of claim 15, wherein the load includes a clock mechanism to control an operating frequency of the load.

21. The medium of claim 20, wherein the load is at least one of a microprocessor, a multi-core microprocessor, a core of a multi-core microprocessor, an electronic load that operates as a function of a power distribution impedance, and combinations thereof.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the adjusted functionality includes an operating frequency of the load.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the load is at least one of a microprocessor, a multi-core microprocessor, a core of a multi-core microprocessor, an electronic load that operates as a function of a power distribution impedance and combinations thereof.

22. A system comprising:

a double data rate memory;

a variable frequency generator to generate a signal at a plurality of frequencies;

a current sensor to sense a current;

a voltage sensor to sense a voltage; and

a controller to determine an impedance of a power distribution network, wherein the controller is operative to;

determine an impedance of a power distribution network for a range of frequencies; and

adjust a functionality of the load based on a relationship between the determined impedance of the power distribution network for the range of frequencies and the functionality of the load.