Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Computer power control – Power conservation
Reexamination Certificate
2007-04-03
2007-04-03
Trujillo, James K. (Department: 2116)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Computer power control
Power conservation
C713S300000, C713S322000, C713S323000
Reexamination Certificate
active
10682758
ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the power consumption of a semiconductor device such as a CPU or other form of processor that is operable to process a sequence of instructions. The device includes a monitor for checking the power consumption of the device, in order to detect any significant change in power consumption (which can cause problems for the power supply circuitry). In order to mitigate such change, one or more dummy instructions are inserted into the sequence of instructions. The dummy instructions do not affect the logical processing, but are selected in order to limit the change in power consumption. Thus if the change in power consumption represents an increase, then dummy instructions are selected that do not require much current. Conversely, if the change in power consumption represents a decrease, then dummy instructions are selected that draw a relatively large amount of current.
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Kowert Robert C.
Meyertons Hood Kivlin Kowert & Goetzel P.C.
Sun Microsystems Inc.
Trujillo James K.
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