Adaptive Voltage Scaling Bus Switching for Multi-Controller Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in the inability to directly interconnect power modules and switch modules due to different protocols, particularly with the phasing out of VR11 protocol support in high current power management chips, necessitating protocol conversion and managing kernel power with varying voltage requirements across different controllers.
Innovation Solution
An Adaptive Voltage Scaling (AVS) system with a switching module that selects and connects controllers based on bus availability, enabling flexible switching and protocol conversion between controllers and power modules, including a processor and switching circuit to manage bus states and scale control objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If protocol conversion is implemented to enable interconnection between power modules and switch modules with different protocols, then interoperability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bus as an intermediary component that enables communication between the power module and switch module without requiring direct protocol conversion. The bus acts as a standardized interface that both modules can connect to, eliminating the need for complex protocol translation circuits while maintaining interoperability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bus is designed as a universal communication interface that can handle multiple protocols and connect different types of modules. This multi-functional approach allows the same bus infrastructure to support both VR11 and PMBUS protocols, reducing the need for dedicated conversion circuits for each protocol pair.
2Device complexity
If a single controller is used for power management, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different customer needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic controller selection mechanism where the system can choose between different controllers (CPU or BMC) based on customer needs and operational conditions. The bus availability checking and controller switching logic enable the system to adaptively select the most appropriate controller without requiring a fixed architecture, thus maintaining low complexity while achieving high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control function is segmented into multiple independent controllers (CPU and BMC) that can operate independently or in coordination. This segmentation allows different customer scenarios to be supported by selecting the appropriate controller, while the modular design keeps individual controller complexities low.
3Reliability
If the switching module continuously monitors bus state for controller selection, then control reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switching module employs periodic bus state checking rather than continuous monitoring. The controller selection process triggers bus state checks at appropriate intervals, allowing the system to maintain reliable control while reducing unnecessary energy consumption from constant monitoring activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The bus state checking mechanism is integrated into the controller selection process itself, where the switching module only performs monitoring when needed for controller selection or switching. This self-service approach ensures reliability is maintained at critical moments while avoiding wasteful continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
An Adaptive Voltage Scaling (AVS) system, method and apparatus, and a device. The system includes at least two controllers, a switching module, and a control object. The switching module is connected to the controllers through a bus, an output end of the switching module is connected to an input end of the control object, and the switching module scales the control object through AVS; and the switching module scales the occupied state of the bus through a selected controller, whereby the selected controller scales the control object through the bus.