Coordinating control loops for temperature control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9625890-B2
Application number	US-201414229336-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2014
Priority date	Mar 28, 2014
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

In one example a controller comprises logic, at least partially including hardware logic, configured to define a control relationship between a first control loop associated with a first heat source and a second control loop associated with a second heat source and enforce the control relationship during throttling operations of the first heat source and the second heat source. Other examples may be described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A controller, comprising:
logic, at least partially including hardware logic, configured to:
define a control relationship between a first control loop associated with a first heat source and a second control loop associated with a second heat source;
enforce the control relationship during throttling operations of the first heat source and the second heat source;
define a throttle ratio parameter between the first heat source and the second heat source;
activate the first control loop;
track a number of throttle steps implemented by the first control loop;
activate of the second control loop; and
set a throttle step delta parameter to the number of throttle steps implemented by the first control loop before activation of the second control loop.

2. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the logic is further configured to:
maintain the throttle ratio parameter during throttling operations of the first heat source and the second heat source.

3. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the logic is further configured to:
maintain the throttle step delta parameter during throttling operations of the first heat source and the second heat source.

4. The controller of claim 3 , wherein the logic is further configured to maintain a count of incomplete throttling operations.

5. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the throttling operations comprise at least one of:
reducing a power level drawn by an electronic component; or
reducing an operating speed of an electronic component.

6. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the logic is further configured to maintain the throttle ratio parameter during reverse throttling operations of the first heat source and the second heat source.

7. The controller of claim 6 , wherein the reverse throttling operations comprise at least one of:
increasing a power level drawn by an electronic component; or
increasing an operating speed of an electronic component.

8. An electronic device, comprising:
at least one heat generating component; and
a controller, comprising:
logic, at least partially including hardware logic, configured to:
define a control relationship between a first control loop associated with a first heat source and a second control loop associated with a second heat source;
enforce the control relationship during throttling operations of the first heat source and the second heat source;
define a throttle ratio parameter between the first heat source and the second heat source;
activate the first control loop;
track a number of throttle steps implemented by the first control loop;
activate of the second control loop; and
set a throttle step delta parameter to the number of throttle steps implemented by the first control loop before activation of the second control loop.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the logic is further configured to:
maintain the throttle ratio parameter during throttling operations of the first heat source and the second heat source.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the logic is further configured to:
maintain the throttle step delta parameter during throttling operations of the first heat source and the second heat source.

11. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the logic is further configured to maintain a count of incomplete throttling operations.

12. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the throttling operations comprise at least one of:
reducing a power level drawn by an electronic component; or
reducing an operating speed of an electronic component.

13. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the logic is further configured to maintain the throttle ratio parameter during reverse throttling operations of the first heat source and the second heat source.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the reverse throttling operations comprise at least one of:
increasing a power level drawn by an electronic component; or
increasing an operating speed of an electronic component.

15. A computer program product comprising logic instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium which, when executed by a controller, configure the controller to:
define a control relationship between a first control loop associated with a first heat source and a second control loop associated with a second heat source;
enforce the control relationship during throttling operations of the first heat source and the second heat source;
define a throttle ratio parameter between the first heat source and the second heat source;
activate the first control loop;
track a number of throttle steps implemented by the first control loop;
activate of the second control loop; and
set a throttle step delta parameter to the number of throttle steps implemented by the first control loop before activation of the second control loop.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the logic is further configured to:
maintain the throttle ratio parameter during throttling operations of the first heat source and the second heat source.

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Carbone Mark
• Biber Catharina R

Classifications

• G06F1/203 Primary

  for portable computers, e.g. for laptops · CPC title

• G06F1/3296

  by lowering the supply or operating voltage · CPC title

• G06F1/3234

  Power saving characterised by the action undertaken · CPC title

• Y02B60/1275

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02B60/1285

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic