Adaptive Power Control Using Timing Canonicals for IC Voltage Binning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuit designs face challenges due to manufacturing variations, leading to inconsistent operating speeds and power consumption across identical chips, with faster chips consuming more power and slower chips requiring higher voltages, which can result in suboptimal performance and increased power usage.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the operating speed of each integrated circuit device using a canonical equation evaluating different threshold voltage portions, sorts devices into voltage bins based on performance, and adjusts operating voltages to optimize power usage, ensuring faster devices operate at lower voltages and slower devices at higher voltages, thereby reducing overall power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a single operating voltage is used for all integrated circuit devices, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but power consumption is suboptimal because faster devices consume more power than necessary and slower devices cannot meet performance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the operating speed and voltage bin classification of each integrated circuit device during the manufacturing process, before the devices are deployed. This allows the system to pre-configure the appropriate operating voltage for each device based on its performance characteristics, so that when the devices are operated, they consume optimal power without requiring real-time adjustments. The voltage bin information is embedded in each device during manufacture, enabling subsequent optimal power management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different operating voltages to different individual devices based on their specific performance characteristics. Instead of applying a uniform voltage to all devices, each device receives a customized voltage assignment tailored to its speed bin classification. This allows faster devices to operate at lower voltages (reducing their power consumption) while slower devices operate at higher voltages (ensuring they meet performance requirements), thereby optimizing overall system power consumption.
2Ease of manufacture
If the cutpoint for voltage bin classification is determined apriori during design phase, then classification process is simplified, but power optimization is limited because manufacturing variations cause devices to fall into suboptimal voltage bins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by measuring the actual operating speed of each integrated circuit device during the manufacturing process and using this measured data to determine the appropriate voltage bin classification. Rather than relying solely on pre-determined cutpoints based on design specifications, the system incorporates real measurements of device performance and uses this feedback to assign devices to voltage bins that truly reflect their capabilities. This ensures that even devices with manufacturing variations are classified accurately and assigned optimal operating voltages.
3Speed
If faster integrated circuit devices are operated at higher voltages to ensure performance, then performance requirements are met, but power consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the operating voltage adaptive rather than fixed. Each device's operating voltage is dynamically adjusted based on its measured performance characteristics and voltage bin classification. Faster devices are assigned to lower voltage bins, allowing them to operate at lower voltages that reduce power consumption while still meeting performance requirements. The system creates a dynamic relationship where voltage assignment responds to actual device performance rather than applying a static, one-size-fits-all voltage level.
4Reliability
If slower integrated circuit devices are operated at higher voltages to meet performance specifications, then performance requirements are satisfied, but overall power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the operating voltage parameter based on device performance characteristics. Devices are classified into different voltage bins according to their speed measurements, and each bin is assigned a specific operating voltage parameter. This creates a structured approach where the voltage parameter is changed in discrete steps corresponding to performance levels, allowing slower devices to receive higher voltages only when necessary to meet performance specifications, rather than all devices operating at the maximum voltage.
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of digital circuits are manufactured from an identical circuit design. A power controller is operatively connected to the digital circuits, and a non-transitory storage medium is operatively connected to the power controller. The digital circuits are classified into different voltage bins, and each of the voltage bins has a current leakage limit. Each of the digital circuits has been previously tested to operate within a corresponding current leakage limit of a corresponding voltage bin into which each of the digital circuits has been classified. The non-transitory storage medium stores boundaries of the voltage bins as speed-binning test data. The power controller controls power-supply signals applied differently for each of the digital circuits based on which bin each of the digital circuit has been classified and the speed-binning test data.