Learning a predicted voltage to supply an electronic device based on dynamic voltage variation

• US 20070208463A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cases, Moises, de Araujo, Daniel, Bartley, Gerald, Maxson, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/366,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20070208463A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

In an embodiment, a predicted voltage to supply to an electronic device is learned based on a dynamic voltage variation that occurs at the electronic device. The dynamic voltage variation occurs in response to the electronic device processing a functional event, and the predicted voltage is supplied to the electronic device in response to observing the functional event on a bus that is connected to the electronic device. In response to observing the dynamic voltage variation, the predicted voltage that is associated with the functional event is modified based on the dynamic voltage variation. Then, on the next occurrence of the functional event, the predicted voltage is supplied to the electronic device. In this way, voltage transients at the electronic device are controlled.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

learning a predicted voltage to supply an electronic device during a functional event, wherein the learning is based on a dynamic voltage variation, wherein the dynamic voltage variation occurs at the electronic device in response to the electronic device processing the functional event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the learning further comprises:

observing the functional event;

determining the predicted voltage that is associated with the functional event; and

supplying the predicted voltage to the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is to receive the functional event.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the learning further comprises:

observing a dynamic voltage variation at the electronic device; and

determining the predicted voltage that is associated with the functional event based on the dynamic voltage variation; and

storing the predicted voltage.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the learning further comprises:

repeating the observing the functional event on a next occurrence of the functional event; and

repeating the determining the predicted voltage based on an output of the modifying the predicted voltage.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the observing the dynamic voltage variation further comprises:

observing the dynamic voltage variation in response to the electronic device processing the functional event.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the observing the functional event further comprises:

observing the functional event on a bus that is connected to the electronic device prior to the electronic device receiving the functional event from the bus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the functional event comprises an instruction directed to the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a processor.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initializing a repository for a plurality of functional events and a corresponding plurality of predicted voltages.

10. A signal-bearing medium encoded with instructions, wherein the instructions when executed comprise:

learning a predicted voltage to supply an electronic device during a functional event based on a dynamic voltage variation that occurs at the electronic device in response to the electronic device processing the functional event, wherein the learning further comprises

observing the functional event,

determining the predicted voltage that is associated with the functional event,

supplying the predicted voltage to the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is to receive the functional event,

observing a dynamic voltage variation at the electronic device, and

modifying the predicted voltage that is associated with the functional event based on the dynamic voltage variation.

11. The signal-bearing medium of claim 10, wherein the learning further comprises:

repeating the observing the functional event on a next occurrence of the functional event; and

repeating the determining the predicted voltage based on an output of the modifying.

12. The signal-bearing medium of claim 10, wherein the observing the dynamic voltage variation further comprises:

observing the dynamic voltage variation in response to the electronic device processing the functional event.

13. The signal-bearing medium of claim 10, wherein the observing the functional event further comprises:

observing the functional event on a bus that is connected to the electronic device prior to the electronic device receiving the functional event from the bus.

14. The signal-bearing medium of claim 10, wherein the functional event comprises an instruction directed to the electronic device.

15. The signal-bearing medium of claim 10, wherein the electronic device comprises a processor.

16. The signal-bearing medium of claim 10, wherein the learning further comprises:

initializing a repository for a plurality of functional events and a corresponding plurality of predicted voltages.

17. A computer system comprising:

a processor connected to a bus; and

a voltage regulator connected to the processor and the bus, wherein the voltage regulator learns a predicted voltage to supply the processor during a functional event based on a dynamic voltage variation that occurs at the processor in response to the processor processing the functional event, wherein the voltage regulator further observes the functional event on the bus, determines the predicted voltage that is associated with the functional event, supplies the predicted voltage to the processor, observes a dynamic voltage variation at the processor, and modifies the predicted voltage that is associated with the functional event based on the dynamic voltage variation.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the voltage regulator repeatedly observes the functional event and repeatedly determines the predicted voltage based on an output of the modification of the predicted voltage.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the voltage regulator observes the functional event on the bus prior to the processor processing the functional event from the bus.

20. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the voltage regulator initializes a repository for a plurality of functional events and a corresponding plurality of predicted voltages.