Power supply adjustment device with multi-section load line, motherboard and power supply adjustment method

Abstract

A power supply adjustment method, applicable to a processor and a power supply controller, includes: obtaining the processor's operating current; obtaining target power supply parameters from a pre-stored multi-segment load line based on the operating current; and controlling the power supply controller to provide power to the processor based on the target power supply parameters. The pre-stored multi-segment load line indicates the relationship between multiple preset currents and multiple preset power supply parameters, and includes multiple line segments corresponding to different current ranges and having different slopes. A power supply adjustment device with a multi-segment load line, applicable to a processor and a power supply controller, includes a reading line and a control circuit. A motherboard with a multi-segment load line includes a power supply controller and a processor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a power supply adjustment device, a motherboard, and a power supply adjustment method. Background Technology

[0002] To balance performance and power consumption, the Central Processing Unit (CPU) on a computer motherboard is typically designed with a fixed load line. By default, the higher the CPU load, the greater the voltage drop caused by the load line. However, when the CPU is overclocked or over-voltaged, the fixed load line can generate a larger voltage drop, leading to decreased system stability.

[0003] To address this issue, users often lower the load line value to reduce voltage drop and improve system stability. However, with a smaller load line value, the voltage drop decreases regardless of whether the load is light or heavy, rendering the original energy-saving function ineffective. Therefore, fixed-slope load lines have limitations in application under dynamic load conditions. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above, the present invention provides a power supply adjustment device, a main board, and a power supply adjustment method having a multi-segment load line.

[0005] A power supply adjustment device with a multi-segment load line according to an embodiment of the present invention is applicable to a processor and a power supply controller, and includes a reading line and a control circuit, wherein the control circuit is connected to the reading line. The reading line is used to obtain the operating current of the processor. The control circuit is used to obtain target power supply parameters from the pre-stored multi-segment load line according to the operating current, and control the power supply controller to provide power to the processor according to the target power supply parameters, wherein the pre-stored multi-segment load line indicates the relationship between multiple preset currents and multiple preset power supply parameters, and includes multiple segments with different slopes corresponding to different current ranges.

[0006] A motherboard with a multi-segment load line according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a power supply controller and a processor, wherein the processor is connected to the power supply controller. The processor is used to obtain target power supply parameters from a pre-stored multi-segment load line according to its own operating current, and to control the power supply controller to provide power to the processor according to the target power supply parameters. The pre-stored multi-segment load line indicates the relationship between multiple preset currents and multiple preset power supply parameters, and includes multiple segments with different slopes corresponding to different current ranges.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a power supply adjustment method is applicable to a processor and a power supply controller, and includes: obtaining the processor's operating current; obtaining target power supply parameters from a pre-stored multi-segment load line based on the operating current; and controlling the power supply controller to provide power to the processor based on the target power supply parameters; wherein the pre-stored multi-segment load line indicates the relationship between multiple preset currents and multiple preset power supply parameters, and includes multiple line segments corresponding to different current ranges and having different slopes.

[0008] With the above structure, the power supply adjustment device, motherboard, and power supply adjustment method with multi-segment load lines disclosed in this case can dynamically adjust the power supply according to the processor's operating current by applying load lines with non-fixed slopes. Therefore, even when the computer system is under overclocking and overvoltage conditions, it can save energy under light loads and maintain stability under heavy loads.

[0009] The foregoing description of the contents of this disclosure and the following description of the embodiments are intended to demonstrate and explain the concept and principles of the present invention, and to provide a further explanation of the claims of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a functional block diagram illustrating a power supply adjustment device and its applicable environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a functional block diagram of the control circuit of the power supply controller and power supply adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 3 This is a functional block diagram of the control circuit of the power supply controller and power supply adjustment device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a functional block diagram of a motherboard drawn according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating a power supply adjustment method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a multi-segment load line drawn according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] The reference numerals in the attached figures are explained as follows:

[0017] 1: Power supply adjustment device

[0018] 11: Read the line

[0019] 12, 22, 32: Control circuit

[0020] 13.43: User Interface

[0021] 221, 321: Processing Unit

[0022] 222: Communication Bus

[0023] 322: General purpose input / output port

[0024] 323: Load Unit

[0025] 41: Power supply controller

[0026] 42: Processor

[0027] A1: Processor

[0028] A2,A2',A2”: Power supply controller

[0029] S1, S3, S5: Steps

[0030] L11, L12, L13: Line segments Detailed Implementation

[0031] The following detailed description of the features and advantages of the present invention in the embodiments is sufficient to enable anyone skilled in the art to understand the technical content of the present invention and implement it accordingly. Furthermore, based on the disclosure, claims, and drawings in this specification, any person skilled in the art can easily understand the relevant objectives and advantages of the present invention. The following embodiments are intended to further illustrate the points of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

[0032] The power supply adjustment device and method described below can be applied to the management of the processor and power supply controller on the computer motherboard.

[0033] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a functional block diagram illustrating a power supply adjustment device and its applicable environment according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1As shown, the power supply adjustment device 1 includes a read line 11, a control circuit 12, and a user interface 13, wherein the user interface 13 is an optional component. The control circuit 12 is connected to the read line 11 and the user interface 13 via wired or wireless means, and the control circuit 12 is connected to the power supply controller A2. The read line 11 is connected to the processor A1. The processor A1 is, for example, a central processing unit, a graphics processor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic controller, or other processor with signal processing capabilities. The power supply controller A2 is, for example, a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller or other type of power supply controller, used to provide power to the processor A1. In one embodiment, the processor A1 and the power supply controller A2 are components of a motherboard, and the power supply adjustment device 1 is located outside the motherboard. In another embodiment, the processor A1, the power supply controller A2, and the power supply adjustment device 1 are all components of a motherboard.

[0034] Read line 11 is used to obtain the operating current of processor A1, specifically the current operating current. For example, read line 11 can be connected to a current meter or other current sensing circuit of processor A1. It should be noted that... Figure 1 The illustration exemplarily depicts a read line 11 connected to processor A1 to obtain the operating current of processor A1. In other embodiments, read line 11 may be a connection to a power supply controller A2 implemented as a pulse width modulation controller to obtain the operating current of processor A1 from the pulse width modulation controller. Alternatively, read line 11 may be a connection to a Basic Input / Output System (BIOS) chip to obtain the operating current of processor A1 from the BIOS chip.

[0035] The control circuit 12 is used to obtain target power supply parameters from a pre-stored multi-segment load line based on the operating current, and to control the power supply controller A2 to supply power to the processor A1 according to the target power supply parameters. The pre-stored multi-segment load line indicates the relationship between multiple preset currents and multiple preset power supply parameters, and includes multiple segments with different slopes corresponding to different current ranges. The control circuit 12 may include at least a connection port and a processing unit. The connection port is used to connect to the power supply controller A2, and the processing unit is, for example, a basic input / output system chip, an embedded controller (EC), or a microcontroller unit (MCU) with signal processing capabilities, and is used to adjust the load line value of the power supply controller A2 or the load unit connected to the power supply controller A2 through the connection port. There may be multiple multi-segment load lines, which can be selected according to the model or type of the processor A1. Multiple segments may refer to two or more segments, depending on the current load condition of the processor A1. The preset current can be the current range that processor A1 can withstand, such as between 0 and 200 amps, or it can refer to the current converted from the power consumption of processor A1. The target power supply parameters can be voltage, power, power efficiency, overcurrent protection (OCP), or overvoltage protection (OVP) threshold.

[0036] In one embodiment, the pre-stored multi-segment load line includes at least a first segment corresponding to a first current range and a second segment corresponding to a second current range. The current value in the first current range is less than the current value in the second current range, and the slope of the first segment is greater than the slope of the second segment. The first current range is suitable for light processor loads, where the first segment can enable a larger voltage drop to achieve energy saving under light loads. The second current range is suitable for heavy processor loads, where the second segment can enable a smaller voltage drop to maintain system stability and avoid system crashes, computational errors, or performance degradation caused by excessive voltage drop. Specifically, the slope of the first segment is greater than twice the slope of the second segment. For example, the first current range can be greater than 0 amps and not greater than 50 amps, and the slope of the first segment can be 0.5; the second current range can be greater than 50 amps and not greater than 100 amps, and the slope of the second segment can be 0.2. In one embodiment, the slope can refer to the resistance value.

[0037] User interface 13, such as a keyboard, mouse, or touchscreen, is used to receive and transmit modification commands to control circuit 12. Control circuit 12 is also used to adjust a pre-stored multi-segment load line according to the modification command. User interface 13 allows users to modify the multi-segment load line and transmit modification commands to control circuit 12. For example, users can modify the slope of one or more segments of the multi-segment load line, or modify the current value corresponding to the switching point (i.e., the boundary between current ranges) of the multi-segment load line, depending on the processor A1 model or usage. In one embodiment, the modification command can indicate a specified switching current value as the switching point between two of the multiple segments, and control circuit 12 adjusts the specified switching current value to a preset ratio as the switching point. That is, control circuit 12 can fine-tune the user-specified switching current value and then use the fine-tuned switching current value as the switching point. For example, when the user specifies a current value of 50 amps corresponding to the switching point between the first and second segments of a multi-segment load line, the control circuit 12 can set the current value corresponding to the switching point to 45 amps according to a preset ratio, such as 10%. That is, when the load on processor A1 exceeds 45 amps, the circuit switches from the first segment to the second segment. The preset ratio can provide a load stage buffer, thereby effectively avoiding system anomalies caused by sudden heavy loads. The preset ratio can be set according to actual needs. The above example uses a specified current value minus the preset ratio as the final set current value. In other embodiments, the specified current value can be added to the preset ratio as the final set current value.

[0038] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a functional block diagram of the control circuit of the power supply controller and power supply adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 The control circuit 12 in the middle can Figure 2 The control circuit 22 is used to implement this. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the control circuit 22 may include a processing unit 221 and a communication bus 222, which is connected to the processing unit 221 and the power supply controller A2'. In this embodiment, the power supply controller A2' is a digital controller.

[0039] Processing unit 221 is used to obtain target power supply parameters from pre-stored multi-segment load lines based on the operating current, and adjust the load line values ​​in power supply controller A2' according to the target power supply parameters via communication bus 222. For example, processing unit 221 can be a basic input / output system chip, embedded controller, or microcontroller unit, or other components with signal processing capabilities, and can adjust the load line values ​​in power supply controller A2' via communication bus 222, such as voltage, current, and / or power limits. Communication bus 222 can be a power management bus (PMBus) or an inter-integrated circuit bus (I-ICB). 2 C Bus).

[0040] Please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a functional block diagram of the control circuit of the power supply controller and power supply adjustment device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 The control circuit 12 in the middle can Figure 3 The control circuit 32 is used to implement this. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the control circuit 32 may include a processing unit 321, a general-purpose input / output (GPIO) port 322, and multiple load units 323. The general-purpose input / output port 322 can be connected to the processing unit 321 and the multiple load units 323, and connected to the power supply controller A2” through the multiple load units 323. In this embodiment, the power supply controller A2” is an analog controller.

[0041] The processing unit 321 can be connected to the power supply controller A2" via a general-purpose input / output port 322 and multiple load units 323. The processing unit 321 is used to obtain target power supply parameters from a pre-stored multi-segment load line based on the operating current, and, based on the target power supply parameters, to connect at least a portion of the multiple load units 323 to the power supply controller A2" via the general-purpose input / output port 322, thereby adjusting the power supplied by the power supply controller A2". For example, the processing unit 321 can be a basic input / output system chip, an embedded controller, or a microcontroller unit, or other components with signal processing capabilities.

[0042] Each of the multiple load units 323 includes at least one of a resistor and a capacitor, and is used to connect to the power supply controller A2". The multiple load units 323 may include different numbers of resistors and capacitors to have different impedance values. The processing unit 321 can control the load units 323 turned on by the power supply controller A2" through a general-purpose input / output port 322, thereby adjusting the power supplied by the power supply controller A2". In particular, the impedance value is proportional to the load line value (slope).

[0043] Please refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a functional block diagram of a motherboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, the motherboard 4 includes a power supply controller 41, a processor 42, and a user interface 43. The processor 42 is connected to the power supply controller 41 and the user interface 43 via wired or wireless means. The user interface 43 is an optional component. The implementation and operation of the power supply controller 41 and the user interface 43 can be the same as... Figure 1 The power supply controller A2 and user interface 13 shown here will not be described in detail here.

[0044] The processor 42 is used to obtain target power supply parameters from a pre-stored multi-segment load line based on its own operating current, and to control the power supply controller 41 to provide power to the processor 42 according to the target power supply parameters. The pre-stored multi-segment load line indicates the relationship between multiple preset currents and multiple preset power supply parameters, and includes multiple line segments with different slopes corresponding to different current ranges. The implementation of the pre-stored multi-segment load line is as described in the previous embodiments and will not be repeated here. In this embodiment, the processor 42 can perform the operations performed by the control circuit 12 in the previous embodiments. For example, the processor 42 can be a central processing unit, graphics processor, microcontroller, programmable logic controller, or other processor with signal processing capabilities, and the target power supply parameters can be, for example, voltage or power. For example, the processor 42 can send a control signal to the power supply controller 41 based on its own operating current corresponding to the target voltage, causing the power supply controller 41 to adjust the output voltage or current, thereby stably providing power to meet operational requirements.

[0045] Please refer to Figure 5 ,in Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating a power supply adjustment method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 As shown, the power supply adjustment method includes step S1: obtaining the processor's operating current; step S3: obtaining target power supply parameters from a pre-stored multi-segment load line based on the operating current; and step S5: controlling the power supply controller to supply power to the processor based on the target power supply parameters. The power supply adjustment method is applicable to... Figure 1 The power supply adjustment device 1 shown and Figure 4 The motherboard 4 shown below is exemplarily described below. Figure 1 The power supply adjustment device 1 shown is used to illustrate this. Figure 5 The power supply adjustment method is shown. In another embodiment, the following power supply adjustment method can be derived from... Figure 4 The processor 42 of the motherboard 4 shown executes.

[0046] In step S1, the operating current of processor A1 is obtained from the reading line 11. Specifically, the operating current of processor A1 can be obtained by reading the reading line 11 through Ohm's law using the voltage drop across a fixed resistor, and the real-time current data is provided to the control circuit 12. Alternatively, the reading line 11 can obtain the operating current of processor A1 from the pulse width modulation controller or the basic input / output system.

[0047] In step S3, the control circuit 12 obtains the target power supply parameters from the pre-stored multi-segment load line according to the operating current. Specifically, the pre-stored multi-segment load line can indicate the relationship between multiple preset currents and multiple preset power supply parameters, and includes multiple segments with different slopes corresponding to different current ranges.

[0048] In step S5, the control circuit 12 controls the power supply controller to provide power to the processor according to the target power supply parameters. Specifically, the control circuit 12 may obtain dynamic voltage adjustment parameters according to the design guidelines or power requirement specifications of the processor A1, and control the power supply controller A2 to perform power compensation based on the voltage drop calculated based on the load line, thereby adjusting the power supplied by the power supply controller A2 to the processor A1.

[0049] In one embodiment, the power supply adjustment method may further include receiving a modification command and adjusting a pre-stored multi-segment load line according to the modification command. For example, a user can modify the multi-segment load line via user interface 13 and transmit the modification command to control circuit 12. The modification command may indicate a switching current value at a switching point between two of a plurality of segments, and the aforementioned adjustment of the pre-stored multi-segment load line according to the modification command may include adjusting the specified switching current value by a preset ratio as the switching point.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 6 ,in Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a multi-segment load line according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 As shown, a multi-segment load line can have at least three segments, including a first segment L11, a second segment L12, and a third segment L13. This multi-segment load line can correspond to the processor's overclocking state. During power-on, the Basic Input / Output System (PIS) can recognize that the processor is in an overclocking state and notify the power supply control unit or the processor to use the multi-segment load line for power supply control.

[0051] In this embodiment, the first segment L11 is a load segment with a capacitance of 0.5 milliohms when the processor's operating current is within 50 amps (inclusive), which enables the system containing the processor (e.g., a computer system) to operate stably; the second segment L12 is a load segment with a capacitance of 0.2 milliohms when the processor's operating current is between 51 amps and 100 amps, which enables the system to operate stably; and the third segment L13 is a load segment with a capacitance of 0 milliohms when the processor's operating current is greater than or equal to 100 amps, which enables the system to operate stably. Furthermore, the power supply control device or processor can detect pulse width modulation current data and adjust the segment used by the load line according to the current data, so as to achieve the effect of dynamically changing the slope of the load line based on the load current data.

[0052] With the above structure, the power supply adjustment device, motherboard, and power supply adjustment method with multi-segment load lines disclosed in this case can dynamically adjust the power supply according to the processor's operating current by applying load lines with non-fixed slopes. Therefore, even when the computer system is under overclocking and overvoltage conditions, it can save energy under light loads and maintain stability under heavy loads.

[0053] While the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. Any modifications and variations made without departing from the concept and scope of the invention are within the scope of patent protection of the present invention. Please refer to the claims for the defined scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A power supply adjustment device with a multi-segment load line, characterized in that, Suitable for a processor and a power supply controller, and includes: A read line is used to obtain an operating current of the processor; and A control circuit, connected to the read line, is used to obtain a target power supply parameter from a pre-stored multi-segment load line according to the operating current, and control the power supply controller to provide power to the processor according to the target power supply parameter; The pre-stored multi-segment load line indicates the relationship between multiple preset currents and multiple preset power supply parameters, and includes multiple line segments with different slopes corresponding to different current ranges.

2. The power supply adjustment device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of line segments include at least a first line segment corresponding to a first current range and a second line segment corresponding to a second current range, wherein the current value of the first current range is less than the current value of the second current range, and the slope of the first line segment is greater than the slope of the second line segment.

3. The power supply adjustment device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The slope of the first line segment is more than twice the slope of the second line segment.

4. The power supply adjustment device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply controller is a digital controller, and the control circuit includes: A communication bus for connecting to the power supply controller; and A processing unit is connected to the communication bus and is used to obtain the target power supply parameters from the pre-stored multi-segment load line according to the operating current, and adjust the load line value in the power supply controller through the communication bus according to the target power supply parameters.

5. The power supply adjustment device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply controller is an analog controller, and the control circuit includes: Multiple load units, each including at least one of a resistor and a capacitor, are used to connect to the power supply controller. A general-purpose input / output port is connected to the plurality of load units; and A processing unit is connected to the general-purpose input / output port and is used to obtain the target power supply parameters from the pre-stored multi-segment load line according to the operating current, and to connect at least a portion of the plurality of load units to the power supply controller through the general-purpose input / output port according to the target power supply parameters, so as to adjust the power supplied by the power supply controller.

6. The power supply adjustment device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A user interface, connected to the control circuit, is used to receive a modification command and transmit the modification command to the control circuit; The control circuit is also used to adjust the pre-stored multi-segment load line according to the modification instruction.

7. The power supply adjustment device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The modification instruction specifies a switching current value as the switching point between two of the plurality of line segments, and the control circuit is used to adjust the specified switching current value by a preset ratio to serve as the switching point.

8. A motherboard with multi-segment load lines, characterized in that, Include: A power supply controller; and A processor, connected to the power supply controller, is used to obtain a target power supply parameter from a pre-stored multi-segment load line based on its own operating current, and control the power supply controller to provide power to the processor based on the target power supply parameter; The pre-stored multi-segment load line indicates the relationship between multiple preset currents and multiple preset power supply parameters, and includes multiple line segments with different slopes corresponding to different current ranges.

9. The motherboard as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The plurality of line segments include at least a first line segment corresponding to a first current range and a second line segment corresponding to a second current range, wherein the current value of the first current range is less than the current value of the second current range, and the slope of the first line segment is greater than the slope of the second line segment.

10. The motherboard as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The slope of the first line segment is more than twice the slope of the second line segment.

11. The motherboard as described in claim 8, characterized in that, Also includes: A user interface, connected to the processor, is used to receive a modification instruction and transmit the modification instruction to the processor; The processor is also used to adjust the pre-stored multi-segment load line according to the modification instruction.

12. The motherboard as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The modification instruction specifies a switching current value as the switching point between two of the plurality of line segments, and the processor is used to adjust the specified switching current value by a preset ratio to serve as the switching point.

13. A power supply adjustment method, characterized in that, Suitable for a processor and a power supply controller, and includes: Obtain a working current from the processor; Based on the operating current, a target power supply parameter is obtained from a pre-stored multi-segment load line; and The power supply controller is controlled to provide power to the processor according to the target power supply parameters; The pre-stored multi-segment load line indicates the relationship between multiple preset currents and multiple preset power supply parameters, and includes multiple line segments with different slopes corresponding to different current ranges.

14. The power supply adjustment method as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The plurality of line segments include at least a first line segment corresponding to a first current range and a second line segment corresponding to a second current range, wherein the current value of the first current range is less than the current value of the second current range, and the slope of the first line segment is greater than the slope of the second line segment.

15. The power supply adjustment method as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The slope of the first line segment is more than twice the slope of the second line segment.

16. The power supply adjustment method as described in claim 13, characterized in that, Also includes: Receive a modification instruction; and Adjust the pre-stored multi-segment load line according to the modification instruction.

17. The power supply adjustment method as described in claim 16, characterized in that, The modification instruction indicates a specified switching current value as the switching point between two of the plurality of line segments, and adjusting the pre-stored multi-segment load line according to the modification instruction includes adjusting the specified switching current value by a preset ratio to serve as the switching point.

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