Processor temperature adjustment system and method

• US 7,886,164 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: Alben, Jonah M., Kranzusch, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Bae; Ji H
• Application Number:
  US10/449,942
• Time in Patent Office: 2,811 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/322, 713/320
• US Class Current: 713/300
• 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: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/24 Marginal checking or other specified testing methods not covered by G06F11/26, e.g. race tests
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

The present invention facilitates processor speed adjustments within acceptable temperature ranges. In one embodiment, a present invention system includes a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the processor. When the temperature sensor senses the processor temperature approaching predetermined levels one or more adjustments are performed. For example, the adjustment can include automatically increasing or decreasing a voltage level in response to crossing a temperature threshold.

Claims

1. A processor adjustment system comprising:

a processing unit for performing processing operations;

a performance testing component for directing a diagnostic suite that includes a performance test to characterize operating conditions at which said processor can operate without producing errors at unacceptable rates and characterizes temperature range settings including determining a maximum temperature and minimum temperature at which said processor begins to fail, wherein said test suite is run on a state transition and a temperature range is determined based upon error indications;

a temperature sensing component for sensing a temperature of said processing unit; and

a voltage control component for controlling a voltage level of a power signal based upon a comparison of said temperature sensed by said temperature sensing component to said temperature range.

2. The processor adjustment system of claim 1 wherein said voltage control component increases said voltage level of said power signal if said temperature is below a predetermined temperature value.

3. The processor adjustment system of claim 1 wherein said voltage control component decreases said voltage level of said power signal if said temperature is above a predetermined temperature value.

4. The processor adjustment system of claim 1 further comprising a clock control component for controlling a clock signal frequency of said processing unit, wherein said clock signal frequency is increased if said temperature is below a predetermined temperature value.

5. The processor adjustment system of claim 4 wherein said clock control component decreases said clock signal frequency if said temperature is above a predetermined temperature value.

6. The processor adjustment system of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is a graphics processor.

7. The processor adjustment system of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is included in a game console.

8. A processor performance adjustment method comprising:

sensing a temperature of a processor;

performing testing, including a performance test to characterize operating conditions at which said processor can operate without producing errors at unacceptable rates and characterizes temperature range settings including determining a maximum temperature and minimum temperature at which said processor begins to fail, wherein said testing is run on a state transition and a temperature range is determined based upon error indications; and

adjusting an operating condition of said processor if said temperature is outside said temperature range.

9. A processor performance adjustment method of claim 8 wherein a voltage of said processor is increased if said temperature is below said temperature range.

10. A processor performance adjustment method of claim 8 wherein a voltage of said processor is decreased if said temperature is above said temperature range.

11. A processor performance adjustment method of claim 8 wherein a frequency of said processor is increased if said temperature is below said temperature range.

12. A processor performance adjustment method of claim 8 wherein a frequency of said processor is decreased if said temperature is above said temperature range.

13. The processor performance adjustment method of claim 8 wherein said processor is a graphics processor.

14. The processor performance adjustment method of claim 8 wherein said processor is included in a game console.

15. An information processing system comprising:

means for processing information;

means for directing a diagnostic suite that includes a performance test to characterize operating conditions at which said means for processing can operate without producing errors at unacceptable rates and characterizes temperature range settings including determining a maximum temperature and minimum temperature at which said processor begins to fail, wherein said test suite is run on a state transition and a temperature range is determined based upon error indications;

means for determining a temperature associated with said means for processing information; and

means for altering an operating feature of said means for processing information based upon a temperature value comparison to said temperature range.

16. An information processing system of claim 15 wherein said means for altering an operating feature directs an increase in a voltage if said means for determining a temperature determines said temperature is below a predetermined value.

17. An information processing system of claim 15 wherein said means for altering an operating feature directs a decrease in a voltage if said means for determining a temperature determines said temperature is above a predetermined value.

18. An information processing system of claim 15 wherein said means for altering an operating feature of said means for processing directs an increase in a frequency if said means for determining a temperature determines a temperature is below a predetermined value.

19. An information processing system of claim 15 wherein said means for altering an operating feature directs a decrease in a frequency if said means for determining a temperature determines said temperature is above a predetermined value.

20. An information processing system of claim 15 wherein said information is associated with a graphics application.