Patents by Inventor Norman J. Rohrer

Norman J. Rohrer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240119991
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a memory controller in an integrated circuit may generate refreshes for one or more DRAMs coupled to the integrated circuit according to a refresh rate. The integrated circuit may include one or more temperature sensors. A rate of change of the temperature may be determined from the temperature sensors. If the rate is greater than a threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes according to a refresh rate specified by the DRAMs. If the rate is less than the threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes at a reduced refresh rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Liang Deng, Norman J. Rohrer, Yizhang Yang, Arpit Mittal
  • Patent number: 11823728
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a memory controller in an integrated circuit may generate refreshes for one or more DRAMs coupled to the integrated circuit according to a refresh rate. The integrated circuit may include one or more temperature sensors. A rate of change of the temperature may be determined from the temperature sensors. If the rate is greater than a threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes according to a refresh rate specified by the DRAMs. If the rate is less than the threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes at a reduced refresh rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Deng, Norman J. Rohrer, Yizhang Yang, Arpit Mittal
  • Patent number: 11722060
    Abstract: A converter circuit, included in a power converter circuit, may generate a given voltage level on a regulated power supply node of a computer system. A control circuit may monitor a voltage level and assert a control signal in response to a determination that a regulation event has occurred. A boost converter circuit, included in the power converter circuit, may inject charge into to the regulated power supply node via a capacitor, in response to an assertion of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Zyuban, Norman J. Rohrer, Shawn Searles
  • Patent number: 11418194
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a plurality of functional circuits, a power supply circuit, and a power management circuit. The power supply circuit may generate a shared power signal coupled to each of the functional circuits, and to generate a plurality of adjustable power signals. One adjustable power signal may be coupled to a particular functional circuit of the functional circuits. The power management circuit may a request to the power supply circuit to change a voltage level of the one particular adjustable power signal from a first voltage to a second voltage. The particular functional circuit may couple a respective power node for a sub-circuit of the particular functional circuit to either of the shared power signal or the particular adjustable power signal. The particular functional circuit may also be configured to maintain an operational voltage level on the power node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Cox, Victor Zyuban, Norman J. Rohrer
  • Publication number: 20220254410
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a memory controller in an integrated circuit may generate refreshes for one or more DRAMs coupled to the integrated circuit according to a refresh rate. The integrated circuit may include one or more temperature sensors. A rate of change of the temperature may be determined from the temperature sensors. If the rate is greater than a threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes according to a refresh rate specified by the DRAMs. If the rate is less than the threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes at a reduced refresh rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Liang Deng, Norman J. Rohrer, Yizhang Yang, Arpit Mittal
  • Patent number: 11270753
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a memory controller in an integrated circuit may generate refreshes for one or more DRAMs coupled to the integrated circuit according to a refresh rate. The integrated circuit may include one or more temperature sensors. A rate of change of the temperature may be determined from the temperature sensors. If the rate is greater than a threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes according to a refresh rate specified by the DRAMs. If the rate is less than the threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes at a reduced refresh rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Deng, Norman J. Rohrer, Yizhang Yang, Arpit Mittal
  • Publication number: 20220029536
    Abstract: A converter circuit, included in a power converter circuit, may generate a given voltage level on a regulated power supply node of a computer system. A control circuit may monitor a voltage level and assert a control signal in response to a determination that a regulation event has occurred. A boost converter circuit, included in the power converter circuit, may inject charge into to the regulated power supply node via a capacitor, in response to an assertion of the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Victor Zyuban, Norman J. Rohrer, Shawn Searles
  • Publication number: 20210376831
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a plurality of functional circuits, a power supply circuit, and a power management circuit. The power supply circuit may generate a shared power signal coupled to each of the functional circuits, and to generate a plurality of adjustable power signals. One adjustable power signal may be coupled to a particular functional circuit of the functional circuits. The power management circuit may a request to the power supply circuit to change a voltage level of the one particular adjustable power signal from a first voltage to a second voltage. The particular functional circuit may couple a respective power node for a sub-circuit of the particular functional circuit to either of the shared power signal or the particular adjustable power signal. The particular functional circuit may also be configured to maintain an operational voltage level on the power node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Keith Cox, Victor Zyuban, Norman J. Rohrer
  • Patent number: 11121711
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a plurality of functional circuits, a power supply circuit, and a power management circuit. The power supply circuit may generate a shared power signal coupled to each of the functional circuits, and to generate a plurality of adjustable power signals. One adjustable power signal may be coupled to a particular functional circuit of the functional circuits. The power management circuit may a request to the power supply circuit to change a voltage level of the one particular adjustable power signal from a first voltage to a second voltage. The particular functional circuit may couple a respective power node for a sub-circuit of the particular functional circuit to either of the shared power signal or the particular adjustable power signal. The particular functional circuit may also be configured to maintain an operational voltage level on the power node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Cox, Victor Zyuban, Norman J. Rohrer
  • Publication number: 20210201987
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a memory controller in an integrated circuit may generate refreshes for one or more DRAMs coupled to the integrated circuit according to a refresh rate. The integrated circuit may include one or more temperature sensors. A rate of change of the temperature may be determined from the temperature sensors. If the rate is greater than a threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes according to a refresh rate specified by the DRAMs. If the rate is less than the threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes at a reduced refresh rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Liang Deng, Norman J. Rohrer, Yizhang Yang, Arpit Mittal
  • Patent number: 10978136
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a memory controller in an integrated circuit may generate refreshes for one or more DRAMs coupled to the integrated circuit according to a refresh rate. The integrated circuit may include one or more temperature sensors. A rate of change of the temperature may be determined from the temperature sensors. If the rate is greater than a threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes according to a refresh rate specified by the DRAMs. If the rate is less than the threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes at a reduced refresh rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Deng, Norman J. Rohrer, Yizhang Yang, Arpit Mittal
  • Publication number: 20210028785
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a plurality of functional circuits, a power supply circuit, and a power management circuit. The power supply circuit may generate a shared power signal coupled to each of the functional circuits, and to generate a plurality of adjustable power signals. One adjustable power signal may be coupled to a particular functional circuit of the functional circuits. The power management circuit may a request to the power supply circuit to change a voltage level of the one particular adjustable power signal from a first voltage to a second voltage. The particular functional circuit may couple a respective power node for a sub-circuit of the particular functional circuit to either of the shared power signal or the particular adjustable power signal. The particular functional circuit may also be configured to maintain an operational voltage level on the power node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Keith Cox, Victor Zyuban, Norman J. Rohrer
  • Publication number: 20210020231
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a memory controller in an integrated circuit may generate refreshes for one or more DRAMs coupled to the integrated circuit according to a refresh rate. The integrated circuit may include one or more temperature sensors. A rate of change of the temperature may be determined from the temperature sensors. If the rate is greater than a threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes according to a refresh rate specified by the DRAMs. If the rate is less than the threshold, the memory controller may generate refreshes at a reduced refresh rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Liang Deng, Norman J. Rohrer, Yizhang Yang, Arpit Mittal
  • Patent number: 10763859
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a plurality of functional circuits, a power supply circuit, and a power management circuit. The power supply circuit may generate a shared power signal coupled to each of the functional circuits, and to generate a plurality of adjustable power signals. One adjustable power signal may be coupled to a particular functional circuit of the functional circuits. The power management circuit may a request to the power supply circuit to change a voltage level of the one particular adjustable power signal from a first voltage to a second voltage. The particular functional circuit may couple a respective power node for a sub-circuit of the particular functional circuit to either of the shared power signal or the particular adjustable power signal. The particular functional circuit may also be configured to maintain an operational voltage level on the power node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Cox, Victor Zyuban, Norman J. Rohrer
  • Publication number: 20200162077
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a plurality of functional circuits, a power supply circuit, and a power management circuit. The power supply circuit may generate a shared power signal coupled to each of the functional circuits, and to generate a plurality of adjustable power signals. One adjustable power signal may be coupled to a particular functional circuit of the functional circuits. The power management circuit may a request to the power supply circuit to change a voltage level of the one particular adjustable power signal from a first voltage to a second voltage. The particular functional circuit may couple a respective power node for a sub-circuit of the particular functional circuit to either of the shared power signal or the particular adjustable power signal. The particular functional circuit may also be configured to maintain an operational voltage level on the power node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Keith Cox, Victor Zyuban, Norman J. Rohrer
  • Patent number: 10483974
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a plurality of functional circuits, a power supply circuit, and a power management circuit. The power supply circuit may generate a shared power signal coupled to each of the functional circuits, and to generate a plurality of adjustable power signals. One adjustable power signal may be coupled to a particular functional circuit of the functional circuits. The power management circuit may a request to the power supply circuit to change a voltage level of the one particular adjustable power signal from a first voltage to a second voltage. The particular functional circuit may couple a respective power node for a sub-circuit of the particular functional circuit to either of the shared power signal or the particular adjustable power signal. The particular functional circuit may also be configured to maintain an operational voltage level on the power node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Cox, Victor Zyuban, Norman J. Rohrer
  • Patent number: 10437313
    Abstract: Embodiments provide for a computer implemented method comprising sampling one or more power and performance metrics of a processor; determining an energy cost per instruction based on the one or more power and performance metrics; determining an efficiency metric based on the energy cost per instruction; computing an efficiency control error based on a difference between a current efficiency metric and a target efficiency metric; setting an efficiency control effort based on the efficiency control error; determining a performance control effort, the performance control effort determined by a performance controller for the processor; and adjusting the performance control effort based on the efficiency control effort, wherein adjusting the performance control effort reduces power consumption of the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Inventors: John G. Dorsey, Christopher W. Chaney, Norman J. Rohrer, Cyril De La Cropte De Chanterac
  • Publication number: 20190052271
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a plurality of functional circuits, a power supply circuit, and a power management circuit. The power supply circuit may generate a shared power signal coupled to each of the functional circuits, and to generate a plurality of adjustable power signals. One adjustable power signal may be coupled to a particular functional circuit of the functional circuits. The power management circuit may a request to the power supply circuit to change a voltage level of the one particular adjustable power signal from a first voltage to a second voltage. The particular functional circuit may couple a respective power node for a sub-circuit of the particular functional circuit to either of the shared power signal or the particular adjustable power signal. The particular functional circuit may also be configured to maintain an operational voltage level on the power node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Keith Cox, Victor Zyuban, Norman J. Rohrer
  • Patent number: 10084450
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a plurality of functional circuits, a power supply circuit, and a power management circuit. The power supply circuit may generate a shared power signal coupled to each of the functional circuits, and to generate a plurality of adjustable power signals. One adjustable power signal may be coupled to a particular functional circuit of the functional circuits. The power management circuit may a request to the power supply circuit to change a voltage level of the one particular adjustable power signal from a first voltage to a second voltage. The particular functional circuit may couple a respective power node for a sub-circuit of the particular functional circuit to either of the shared power signal or the particular adjustable power signal. The particular functional circuit may also be configured to maintain an operational voltage level on the power node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Cox, Victor Zyuban, Norman J Rohrer
  • Patent number: 10067483
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a lifetime controller is configured to monitor operating conditions for a device, and to control operating conditions based on the previous conditions to improve the reliability characteristics of the device while permitting strenuous use as available. For example, the lifetime controller may permit strenuous use when the device is first powered on. Once a specified amount of strenuous use has occurred, the controller may cause the operating conditions to be reduced to reduce the wear on the device, and thus help to extend the lifetime of the device. Similarly, if a device is used in less strenuous conditions, the controller may accumulate credit which may be expended by permitting the device to operate in more strenuous conditions for a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ching E. Ho, Antonietta Oliva, James S. Ismail, John G. Dorsey, Keith Cox, Norman J. Rohrer