Patent attributes
A method and system for managing power consumption of a component that employs a clock processing circuit to produce a processed clock signal used by the component from a clock signal supplied to the clock processing circuit. A frequency of a clock signal supplied to the clock processing circuit is changed based on operating characteristics of a voltage regulator module (VRM) or power supply unit so as to maintain acceptable operating parameters of the power supply unit during a change in frequency of a cock signal. Data pertaining to operating characteristics of the VRM or power supply may be one or both of two forms. In one form, this data is determined a priori from simulations or experiments made on a particular VRM or power supply unit and used to generate and store parameters that are known to optimally (quickly and without degradation of VRM or power supply performance) change the frequency of the clock processing circuit. In another form, the operation conditions of the VRM or power supply unit are monitored in real-time as a frequency transition is occurring. In addition, control signals to a VRM or power supply may be monitored to control how changes are made to the frequency of a clock signal. Further still, the power available from a VRM or power supply is monitored and a clock signal frequency to one or more system components is controlled to balance the load to the power available from the VRM or power supply.
