Adaptive power control based on post package characterization of integrated circuits

Abstract

A method and system of adaptive power control based on post package characterization of integrated circuits. Characteristics of a specific integrated circuit are used to adaptively control power of the integrated circuit.

1 . A method comprising:
 determining, independent of operating voltage, a desirable operating frequency for a integrated circuit;   accessing an indication of voltage corresponding to the desirable operating frequency, the voltage selected based upon characteristics that are specific for the integrated circuit and determined after packaging of the integrated circuit, wherein the characteristics are stored external to a substrate of the integrated circuit; and   operating the individual integrated circuit of the plurality of integrated circuits at the voltage.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of voltage is encoded within integrated circuit packaging of, but separate from, the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising operating the integrated circuit at the desirable operating frequency while operating at the voltage. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristics comprise a temperature measurement of the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature measurement is made proximate to said accessing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristics comprises a mapping into one of at least two sets of voltage-frequency operating points. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristics comprises a single set of voltage-frequency operating points. 
     
     
         8 . 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 independent of operating voltage;   second software for determining an operating voltage corresponding to the operating frequency, wherein said determining an operating voltage is based on a frequency-voltage relationship that is specific to the processor, determined after packaging of the processor and stored externally to the processor; and   third software for commanding the processor to operate at the operating voltage.   
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the frequency-voltage relationship is encoded within integrated circuit packaging of, but separate from, the processor. 
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 8 , further comprising operating the processor at the desirable operating frequency while operating at the voltage. 
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the frequency-voltage relationship comprises a temperature measurement of the processor. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature measurement is made proximate to said determining an operating frequency. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the frequency-voltage relationship comprises a mapping into one of at least two sets of voltage-frequency operating points. 
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the frequency-voltage relationship comprises a single set of voltage-frequency operating points. 
     
     
         15 . A computer system comprising:
 means for accessing a measurement of a frequency-voltage characteristic of an integrated circuit, wherein the frequency-voltage characteristic is determined after packaging of the integrated circuit and 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.   
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the frequency-voltage characteristic is encoded within integrated circuit packaging of, but separate from, the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the frequency-voltage characteristic comprises a temperature measurement of the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 17 , further comprising means for measuring a temperature of the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 18 , wherein said means for operating further comprises means for operating the integrated circuit at a voltage and frequency corresponding to said temperature measurement. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 17 , wherein said temperature measurement is performed proximate to said accessing.