Self adjusting clocks in computer systems that adjust in response to changes in their environment

Abstract

An electronic device such as a computer, circuit board, or integrated circuit is built including circuitry for receiving temperature information. The clock frequency of the electronic device is varied in response to the temperature of the electronic device, thus lowering speed and power consumption of the device during periods of higher than normal temperature. Alternately, an electronic device such as a computer, circuit board, or integrated circuit is built including circuitry for receiving power supply information. The clock frequency and possibly the power supply voltage of the electronic device is varied in response to the power supply status of the electronic device, thus lowering speed and power consumption of the device during periods of lower than normal power supply current capability.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electronic device comprising: 
 a temperature sensor; and    a clock controller electrically coupled with said temperature sensor, wherein said clock controller receives a temperature signal from said temperature sensor and produces clock signals of varying frequencies in response to said temperature signal.    
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said clock signals increase in frequency in response to a decrease in said temperature signal, and said clock signals decrease in frequency in response to an increase in said temperature signal.  
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic device is a computer.  
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said electronic device is an integrated circuit.  
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein said temperature sensor is a thermal diode.  
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said clock includes a phase-locked loop.  
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein said phase-locked loop is digital.  
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein said clock automatically changes frequencies during normal operation of said electronic device.  
     
     
         9 . An electronic device comprising: 
 a power supply failure detector; and    a clock electrically coupled with said power supply failure detector, wherein said clock receives a power fail signal from said power supply failure detector and produces clock signals of varying frequencies in response to said power fail signal.    
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein said clock signals decrease in frequency in response to said power fail signal.  
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein said electronic device is a computer.  
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein said electronic device is an integrated circuit.  
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein said power supply failure detector is built into a power supply.  
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein said clock includes a phase-locked loop.  
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein said clock automatically changes frequencies during normal operation of said electronic device.  
     
     
         16 . An electronic device comprising: 
 a power supply failure detector; and    a power supply controller of said electronic device electrically coupled with said power supply failure detector, wherein said power supply controller adjusts a power supply voltage in response to said power fail signal.    
     
     
         17 . A method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device comprising the steps of: 
 a) reading a temperature value of said electronic device; and    b) automatically setting said clock frequency in response to said temperature value.    
     
     
         18 . The method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein said clock frequency is automatically set to a first frequency in response to a first temperature value, and said clock frequency is automatically set to a second frequency in response to a second temperature value.  
     
     
         19 . The method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein said first frequency is less than said second frequency when said first temperature is greater than said second temperature.  
     
     
         20 . The method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein said first frequency is greater than said second frequency when said first temperature is less than said second temperature.  
     
     
         21 . A method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device comprising the steps of: 
 a) detecting a power supply failure; and    b) automatically setting a clock frequency for said electronic device in response to said power supply failure.    
     
     
         22 . The method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein said clock frequency is automatically set to a first frequency during normal operation, and said clock frequency is automatically set to a second frequency in response to a power supply failure.  
     
     
         23 . The method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein said first frequency is greater than said second frequency.  
     
     
         24 . A method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device comprising the steps of: 
 a) reading a first temperature value;    b) reading a new temperature value;    c) comparing said new temperature value to said first temperature value;    d) increasing a clock frequency when said new temperature value is less than said first temperature value; and    e) decreasing a clock frequency when said new temperature value is greater than said first temperature value.    
     
     
         25 . The method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of: 
 f) replacing said first temperature value with said new temperature value.    
     
     
         26 . The method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device of  claim 25 , further repeating steps b) through f) at least once during operation of said electronic device.  
     
     
         27 . The method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device of  claim 25 , further repeating steps b) through f) continually during operation of said electronic device.  
     
     
         28 . A method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device comprising the steps of: 
 a) detecting a power fail signal; and    b) decreasing a clock frequency when said power fail signal is detected.    
     
     
         29 . The method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of: 
 c) decreasing a power supply voltage when said power fail signal is detected.    
     
     
         30 . The method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device of  claim 29 , further repeating steps a) through b) at least once during operation of said electronic device.  
     
     
         31 . The method for adjusting the operation of an electronic device of  claim 29 , further repeating steps a) through b) continually during operation of said electronic device.  
     
     
         32 . An electronic device comprising: 
 means for measuring a temperature of said electronic device;    means for adjusting a clock frequency in response to said temperature of said electronic device.    
     
     
         33 . The electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein said means for adjusting a clock frequency increases said clock frequency in response to a decrease in said temperature, and said means for adjusting a clock frequency decreases said clock frequency in response to an increase in said temperature.  
     
     
         34 . The electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein said electronic device is a computer.  
     
     
         35 . The electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein said electronic device is an integrated circuit.  
     
     
         36 . The electronic device of  claim 35 , wherein said means for measuring a temperature is a thermal diode.  
     
     
         37 . The electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein said means for adjusting a clock frequency includes a phase-locked loop.  
     
     
         38 . The electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein said means for measuring a temperature and said means for adjusting a clock frequency automatically operate during normal operation of said electronic device.  
     
     
         39 . An electronic device comprising: 
 means for detecting a power supply failure; and    means for adjusting a clock frequency of said electronic device in response to said power supply failure.    
     
     
         40 . The electronic device of  claim 39 , wherein said means for adjusting a clock frequency decreases said clock frequency in response to said power supply failure.  
     
     
         41 . The electronic device of  claim 39 , wherein said electronic device is a computer.  
     
     
         42 . The electronic device of  claim 39 , wherein said electronic device is an integrated circuit.  
     
     
         43 . The electronic device of  claim 39 , wherein said means for adjusting a clock frequency includes a phase-locked loop.  
     
     
         44 . The electronic device of  claim 39 , wherein said means for measuring a power supply voltage and said means for adjusting a clock frequency automatically operate during normal operation of said electronic device.  
     
     
         45 . An electronic device comprising: 
 a system configuration register;    a clock controller electrically coupled with said system configuration register, wherein said clock controller receives configuration data from said configuration register and produces clock signals of varying frequencies in response to said configuration data; and    a fan failure detector electrically coupled with said clock controller, wherein said clock controller receives fan data from said fan failure detector and produces clock signals of varying frequencies in response to said fan data.    
     
     
         46 . The electronic device of  claim 45 , further comprising: 
 a power supply failure detector electrically coupled with said clock controller, wherein said clock controller receives power supply data from said power supply failure detector and produces clock signals of varying frequencies in response to said power supply data.    
     
     
         47 . An electronic device comprising: 
 a system configuration register;    a clock controller electrically coupled with said system configuration register, wherein said clock controller receives configuration data from said configuration register and produces clock signals of varying frequencies in response to said configuration data; and    a power supply controller electrically coupled with said system configuration register, wherein said power supply controller receives configuration data from said configuration register and sets a power supply to varying voltages in response to said configuration data.