Nvidia patents chip design that pauses temperature sensors to save power
Nvidia describes a method for managing heat in computer chips by using built-in temperature sensors. The system calculates how long the sensors can be turned off based on current heat levels to reduce energy use.
In the filing’s own words
An integrated circuit includes a plurality of thermal sensors integrated within digital domain circuitry and control logic coupled to the plurality of thermal sensors. The control logic retrieves temperature values generated by one or more thermal sensors of the plurality of thermal sensors. The control logic employs the temperature values within a heat-spreading function to determine a time period during which the one or more thermal sensors are to be deactivated and deactivates the one or more thermal sensors for the time period.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of thermal sensors integrated within digital domain circuitry; and control logic, coupled to the plurality of thermal sensors, to: retrieve temperature values generated by one or more thermal sensors of the plurality of thermal sensors; employ the temperature values within a heat-spreading function to determine a time period during which the one or more thermal sensors are to be deactivated; and deactivate the one or more thermal sensors for the time period.
Facts
- Company
- Nvidia (NVIDIA Corporation)
- Official title
- REAL-TIME POWER MANAGEMENT FOR ON-DIE THERMAL PROTECTION
- Publication number
- US20260267389A1
- Application number
- 19069923
- Filed
- Mar 4, 2025
- Published
- Sep 10, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 22
Classified under
G06F 1/3206 Physics & computingG06F 1/3287 Physics & computingG06F 1/3296 Physics & computingH10W 40/253 Electricity & electronicsMore from Nvidia in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.