Patents by Inventor Stephen H. Gunther

Stephen H. Gunther 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).

  • Patent number: 9086834
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having a plurality of cores each to execute instructions, a non-volatile storage to store maximum peak operating frequency values each a function of a given number of active cores, a configuration storage to store frequency limits each corresponding to one of the maximum peak operating frequency values or a configurable clip frequency value less than the maximum peak operating frequency value. In turn, a power controller is configured to limit operating frequency of the cores to a corresponding frequency limit obtained from the configuration storage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy J. Shrall, Stephen H. Gunther, Krishnakanth V. Sistla, Ryan D. Wells, Shaun M. Conrad
  • Patent number: 9081577
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes a first processor core, a second processor core, a first voltage regulator to provide a first voltage to the first processor core with a first active value when the first processor core is active, and a second voltage regulator to provide a second voltage to the second processor core with a second active value when the second processor core is active. Responsive to a request to place the first processor core in a first low power state with an associated first low power voltage value, the first voltage regulator is to reduce the first voltage to a second low power voltage value that is less than the first low power voltage value, independent of the second voltage regulator. First data stored in a first register of the first processor core is retained at the second low power value. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Shuan M. Conrad, Stephen H. Gunther, Jeremy J. Shrall, Anant S. Deval, Sanjeev S. Jahagirdar
  • Patent number: 9075556
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having a plurality of cores each to execute instructions, a non-volatile storage to store maximum peak operating frequency values each a function of a given number of active cores, a configuration storage to store frequency limits each corresponding to one of the maximum peak operating frequency values or a configurable clip frequency value less than the maximum peak operating frequency value. In turn, a power controller is configured to limit operating frequency of the cores to a corresponding frequency limit obtained from the configuration storage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy J. Shrall, Stephen H. Gunther, Krishnakanth V. Sistla, Ryan D. Wells, Shaun M. Conrad
  • Publication number: 20150185795
    Abstract: A technique to change a thermal design power (TDP) value. In one embodiment, one or more environmental or user-driven changes may cause a processor's TDP value to be changed. Furthermore, in some embodiments a change in TDP may alter a turbo mode target frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Eric Distefano, Guy M. Therien, Vasudevan Srinivasan, Tawfik Rahal-Arabi, Venkatesh Ramani, Ryan D. Wells, Stephen H. Gunther, Jeremy Shrall, James Hermerding, II
  • Patent number: 9063727
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes a first domain with at least one core to execute instructions and a second domain coupled to the first domain and including at least one non-core circuit. These domains can operate at independent frequencies, and a power control unit coupled to the domains may include a thermal logic to cause a reduction in a frequency of the first domain responsive to occurrence of a thermal event in the second domain. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Xiuting C. Man, Michael N. Derr, Jay D. Schwartz, Stephen H. Gunther, Jeremy J. Shrall, Shaun M. Conrad, Avinash N. Ananthakrishan
  • Patent number: 9052901
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system is described herein for providing multiple maximum current configuration options including corresponding turbo frequencies for a processing device. Available options for a processor are determined by initialization code. And based on platform electrical capabilities, an optimal one of the multiple current configuration options is selected. Moreover, during runtime another current configuration is dynamically selected based on current configuration considerations to provide high flexibility and best possible performance per part and computing platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ketan R. Shah, Eric Distefano, Stephen H. Gunther, Jeremy J. Shrall
  • Patent number: 9037840
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a semiconductor chip having a processor and an on-die non-volatile storage resource is described. The on-die non volatile storage is to store different, appropriate performance related information for different configurations and/or usage cases of the processor for a same performance state of the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ankush Varma, Krishnakanth V. Sistla, Martin T. Rowland, Chris Poirier, Eric J. Dehaemer, Avinash N. Ananthakrishnan, Jeremy J. Shrall, Xiuting C. Man, Stephen H. Gunther, Krishna K. Rangan, Devadatta V. Bodas, Don Soltis, Hang T. Nguyen, Cyprian W. Woo, Thi Dang
  • Patent number: 9037889
    Abstract: A processor is described that includes a plurality of execution cores. The processor also includes power management circuitry to dynamically determine a number of the execution cores that, when active, will cause the processor to operate in a substantially linear power consumption vs. frequency region of operation such that performance gain as a function of power consumption increase with the number of cores is higher as compared to any other number of active execution cores within an established power envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Avinash N. Ananthakrishnan, Julien Fefe Sebot, Jay D. Schwartz, Stephen H. Gunther, Eric C. Samson
  • Patent number: 9037885
    Abstract: Independent power control of two or more processing cores. More particularly, at least one embodiment of the invention pertains to a technique to place at least one processing core in a power state without coordinating with the power state of one or more other processing cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen H. Gunther, Edward A. Burton, Anant Deval, Stephan Jourdan, Robert Greiner, Michael Cornaby
  • Patent number: 9032232
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having a core with decode logic to decode an instruction prescribing an identification of a location to be monitored and a timer value, and a timer coupled to the decode logic to perform a count with respect to the timer value. The processor may further include a power management unit coupled to the core to determine a type of a low power state based at least in part on the timer value and cause the processor to enter the low power state responsive to the determination. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Martin G. Dixon, Scott D. Rodgers, Taraneh Bahrami, Stephen H. Gunther, Prashant Sethi, Per Hammarlund
  • Patent number: 9021279
    Abstract: Independent power control of two or more processing cores. More particularly, at least one embodiment of the invention pertains to a technique to place at least one processing core in a power state without coordinating with the power state of one or more other processing cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen H. Gunther, Edward A. Burton, Anant Deval, Stephan Jourdan, Robert Greiner, Michael Cornaby
  • Patent number: 9003210
    Abstract: The operating voltage of an integrated circuit (e.g., a processor) is changed in response to one or more conditions (e.g., a laptop computer is connected to an AC power source). Both the operating frequency and the operating voltage of the integrated circuit are changed. The voltage regulator providing the operating voltage to the integrated circuit is caused to transition between voltage levels using one or more intermediate steps. The integrated circuit continues to operate in the normal manner both at the new voltage and throughout the voltage transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen H. Gunther, Robert J. Greiner, Xia Dai, Hung-Piao Ma
  • Publication number: 20150095666
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes at least one core to execute instructions and a power controller coupled to the core. The power controller may include a power envelope control logic to receive a plurality of power envelope parameters and to enable a power consumption level of the processor to exceed a power burst threshold for a portion of a time window. This portion may be determined according to a length of the time window and a duty cycle, where the power envelope parameters are programmed for a system including the processor and include the power burst threshold, the time window, and the duty cycle. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Avinash N. Ananthakrishnan, Stephen H. Gunther, Jeremy J. Shrall
  • Publication number: 20150095620
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes a first logic to calculate a scalability value for a processor domain based at least in part on an active state residency, a stall duration, and a memory bandwidth of the domain, and to determine an operating frequency update for the domain based at least in part on a current operating frequency of the domain and the scalability value. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Avinash N. Ananthakrishnan, Stephen H. Gunther, Jeremy J. Shrall, Jay D. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 8996899
    Abstract: Independent power control of two or more processing cores. More particularly, at least one embodiment of the invention pertains to a technique to place at least one processing core in a power state without coordinating with the power state of one or more other processing cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen H. Gunther, Edward A. Burton, Anant Deval, Stephan Jourdan, Robert Greiner, Michael Cornaby
  • Patent number: 8990597
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having a core with decode logic to decode an instruction prescribing an identification of a location to be monitored and a timer value, and a timer coupled to the decode logic to perform a count with respect to the timer value. The processor may further include a power management unit coupled to the core to determine a type of a low power state based at least in part on the timer value and cause the processor to enter the low power state responsive to the determination. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Martin G. Dixon, Scott D. Rodgers, Taraneh Bahrami, Stephen H. Gunther, Prashant Sethi, Per Hammarlund
  • Patent number: 8949635
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to improve integrated circuit (IC) performance across a range of operating conditions and/or physical constraints are described. In one embodiment, an operating parameter of one or more of processor cores may be adjusted in response to a change in the activity level of processor cores (e.g., the number of active processor cores) and/or a comparison of one or more operating conditions and one or more corresponding threshold values. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen H. Gunther, Stephan Jourdan, Robert Greiner, Edward A. Burton, Anant S. Deval, Michael Cornaby, Jeremy Shrall, Ray Ramadorai
  • Patent number: 8935546
    Abstract: The operating voltage of an integrated circuit (e.g., a processor) is changed in response to one or more conditions (e.g., a laptop computer is connected to an AC power source). Both the operating frequency and the operating voltage of the integrated circuit are changed. The voltage regulator providing the operating voltage to the integrated circuit is caused to transition between voltage levels using one or more intermediate steps. The integrated circuit continues to operate in the normal manner both at the new voltage and throughout the voltage transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen H. Gunther, Robert J. Greiner, Xia Dia, Hung-Piao Ma
  • Patent number: 8892861
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for establishing safe processor operating points. Some embodiments may include a tamper resistant storage element that stores information regarding one or more operating points of an adjustable processor operating parameter. Some embodiments may further include an element to determine what the current processor operating point is of the operating parameter, and an element to compare the current operating point of the operating parameter with the stored information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Anthony Fischer, Varghese George, Sanjeev Jahagirdar, Stephen H. Gunther
  • Patent number: 8879346
    Abstract: Power management of an embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) by receiving an eDRAM power state transition event and determining both the current power state of the eDRAM and the next power state of the eDRAM from the power states of: a power-on state, a power-off state, and a self-refresh state. Using the current power state and the next power state to determine whether a power state transition is required, and, in the case that a power state transition is required, transition the eDRAM to the next power state. Power management is achieved because transitioning to a power-off state or self-refresh state reduces the amount of power consumed by the eDRAM as compared to the power-on state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Y. Kam, Jay D. Schwartz, Seongwoo Kim, Stephen H. Gunther