Adaptive power control

Abstract

A method and system of adaptive power control. Characteristics of a specific integrated circuit are used to adaptively control power of the integrated circuit.

1 . A method comprising:
 accessing a measurement of a frequency-voltage characteristic of an integrated circuit, wherein the frequency-voltage characteristic is stored external to a substrate of the integrated circuit; and   operating the integrated circuit at a voltage and frequency specified by the frequency-voltage characteristic.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said characteristic is determined prior to packaging of said integrated circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said characteristic is determined at a wafer level of the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said characteristic is determined after packaging of said integrated circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein storage of said frequency-voltage characteristic comprises a non-volatile storage element. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein storage of said frequency-voltage characteristic comprises an auxiliary circuit that is used by said integrated circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the auxiliary circuit is contained within a same integrated circuit package as said integrated circuit of the circuit. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 determining, independent of operating voltage, a desirable operating frequency for a processor;   accessing an indication of voltage corresponding to the desirable operating frequency, the voltage selected based upon characteristics that are specific for the processor, wherein the characteristics are stored external to a substrate of the processor; and   operating the individual processor at the voltage.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the characteristics of the processor comprise a temperature measurement of the processor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein at least two sets of said characteristics are stored. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the selection is made based on information stored within the processor, and the information is used to select the characteristics that are specific for the processor from said at least two sets said characteristics. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the selection is made based on information stored in an auxiliary circuit used by the processor, wherein the information is used to select the characteristics that are specific for the processor from said at least two sets said characteristics. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the selection is made based on the characteristics that are specific for the processor stored in an auxiliary circuit used by the processor, wherein the auxiliary circuit comprises only one set of the characteristics. 
     
     
         14 . A computer system comprising:
 a processor capable of being operated at a plurality of frequencies and at a plurality of voltages;   first software for determining an operating frequency for said processor independent of operating voltage;   second software for determining an operating voltage corresponding to the operating frequency, wherein said determining is based on a frequency-voltage relationship that is specific to the processor and stored externally to the processor; and   third software for commanding the processor to operate at the operating frequency and operating voltage.   
     
     
         15 . The computer system as described in  claim 14  wherein the first software is also for determining the operating frequency by examining a contemporaneous set of operations performed by the processor. 
     
     
         16 . The computer system as described in  claim 14  wherein the frequency-voltage relationship is a continuous function developed by measuring characteristics of the processor. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system as described in  claim 14  wherein the frequency-voltage relationship is a look-up table developed by measuring characteristics of the processor. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system as described in  claim 14  wherein the relationship is stored in an integrated circuit that is separate from the processor. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system as described in  claim 14  wherein the frequency-voltage relationship comprises temperature information. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 19  wherein said second software includes said temperature information in determining said operating voltage. 
     
     
         21 . A computer system comprising:
 means for accessing a measurement of a frequency-voltage characteristic of an integrated circuit, wherein the frequency-voltage characteristic is stored external to a substrate of the integrated circuit; and   means for operating the integrated circuit at a voltage and frequency specified by the frequency-voltage characteristic.