Processing system and methods for use therewith

Abstract

A processing system includes a processing module and a memory module for storing plurality of data. A controllable power source supplies a source voltage to the memory module in response to a target voltage. A controller module receives a temperature signal and adjusts the target voltage in response to the temperature signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 presents a pictorial diagram of a handheld audio system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 presents a block diagram representation of a processing system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 presents a block diagram representation of a processing system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 presents a block diagram representation of a system on a chip integrated circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 presents a block/schematic diagram representation of a clock generator in conjunction with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6-7 present graphical representations of a function in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 8-9 present graphical representations of a function in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 10-11 present graphical representations of a function in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 12-13 present graphical representations of a function in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 presents a graphical representation of a function in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 15-16 present graphical representations of a function in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 17-18 present graphical representations of a function in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 19 presents a flowchart representation of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 presents a flowchart representation of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 21-22 present pictorial diagrams of other devices in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system on a chip integrated circuit comprising: a processing module;a memory module, operably coupled to the processor, for storing a plurality of data;a controllable power source, operably coupled to the memory module, for supplying a source voltage to the memory module in response to a target voltage; anda controller module, operably coupled to the memory module and the controllable power source, for receiving a temperature signal and further operable to: compare the temperature signal to a first temperature threshold;increase the target voltage as a first function of the difference between the temperature signal and the first temperature threshold, when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to the first temperature threshold;compare the temperature signal to a second temperature threshold; andincrease the target voltage as a second function of the difference between the temperature signal and the second temperature threshold, when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to the second temperature threshold.

2. The processing system of claim 1 further comprising: a controllable refresh clock generator for supplying a refresh clock signal to the memory module, the refresh clock signal having a refresh clock frequency that is based on a target refresh clock frequency;wherein the controller module increases the target refresh clock frequency when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to the second temperature threshold.

3. The processing system of claim 2 further comprising: a controllable system clock generator for supplying a system clock signal to the memory module, the system clock signal having a system clock frequency that is based on a target system clock frequency;wherein the controller module increases the target system clock frequency when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to the second temperature threshold.

4. The system on a chip integrated circuit of claim 3 wherein the controller module decreases the system clock frequency when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to the second temperature threshold.

5. The system on a chip integrated circuit of claim 1 wherein at least one of: the first function and the second function, is a monotonic function.

6. A processing system comprising: a processing module;a memory module, operably coupled to the processor, for storing plurality of data;a controllable power source, operably coupled to the memory module, for supplying a source voltage to the memory module in response to a target voltage; anda controller module, operably coupled to the memory module and the controllable power source, for receiving a temperature signal and for adjusting the target voltage in response to the temperature signal.

7. The processing system of claim 6 wherein controller module compares the temperature signal to a first temperature threshold, and increases the target voltage when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to the first temperature threshold.

8. The processing system of claim 7 wherein the controller module increases the target voltage as a first function of the difference between the temperature signal and the first temperature threshold.

9. The processing system of claim 6 wherein the controller module compares the temperature signal to a second temperature threshold, and increases the target voltage when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to the second temperature threshold.

10. The processing system of claim 9 wherein the controller module increases the target voltage as a second function of the difference between the temperature signal and the second temperature threshold.

11. The processing system of claim 10 further comprising: a controllable refresh clock generator for supplying a refresh clock signal to the memory module, the refresh clock signal having a refresh clock frequency that is based on a target refresh clock frequency;wherein the controller module increases the target refresh clock frequency when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to a third temperature threshold.

12. The processing system of claim 11 further comprising: a controllable system clock generator for supplying a system clock signal to the memory module, the system clock signal having a system clock frequency that is based on a target system clock frequency;wherein the controller module decreases the target system clock frequency when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to the third temperature threshold.

13. The processing system of claim 11 wherein the third temperature threshold is substantially equal to the second temperature threshold.

14. The processing system of claim 6 wherein at least one of: the processing module, the memory module, the controllable power source and the controller module, are implemented on a system on a chip integrated circuit.

15. A method comprising: receiving a temperature signal; andadjusting a source voltage to a memory module in response to the temperature signal.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of adjusting a source voltage includes: comparing the temperature signal to a first temperature threshold; andincreasing the source voltage when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to the first temperature threshold.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of increasing the source voltage includes increasing the source voltage as a first function of the difference between the temperature signal and the first temperature threshold.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first function is a monotonic function.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of adjusting a source voltage includes: comparing the temperature signal to a second temperature threshold; andincreasing the source voltage when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to the second temperature threshold.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of increasing the source voltage includes increasing the source voltage as a second function of the difference between the temperature signal and the second temperature threshold.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the second function is a monotonic function.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of: increasing a refresh clock frequency when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to a third temperature threshold.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of: controlling a system clock frequency based on the refresh clock frequency when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to the third temperature threshold.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of controlling a system clock frequency includes decreasing the system clock frequency when the temperature signal compares unfavorably to the third temperature threshold.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the third temperature threshold is substantially equal to the second temperature threshold.