Multi-Mode Integrated Circuits With Bit-Width-Aware Operation Counts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processors waste energy per cycle in lower bit-width operating modes due to fixed energy consumption regardless of operation count, leading to inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A multi-mode system that balances power consumption by determining the number of operations per clock cycle based on a maximum energy threshold, allowing more operations in lower bit-width modes while maintaining equal energy consumption per cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the processor performs operations in lower bit-width operating modes, then the number of operations per clock cycle increases, but the energy consumption per clock cycle remains fixed leading to energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the number of operations per clock cycle variable rather than fixed. The processor dynamically adjusts the number of operations based on the operating mode (bit-width), allowing it to perform more operations in lower bit-width modes while maintaining balanced energy consumption across all modes. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling higher productivity in lower modes without proportionally increasing energy waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of operations per clock cycle based on the operating mode. By adjusting this parameter dynamically according to the bit-width mode, the system achieves higher throughput in lower bit-width modes while maintaining energy balance. This parameter change allows the processor to optimize productivity for each specific operating condition without creating energy waste.
2Device complexity
If the processor is configured for fixed energy consumption per clock cycle, then energy management is simplified, but productivity is reduced in lower bit-width modes due to energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic operation count adjustment that balances energy consumption across operating modes. Rather than using a fixed energy model, the system dynamically determines the number of operations based on the operating mode, achieving both simplified energy management (through balanced consumption) and improved productivity (through mode-optimized operation counts).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters based on the operating mode to achieve balanced energy consumption. By adjusting the number of operations per clock cycle according to the bit-width mode, the system achieves higher productivity in lower modes while maintaining manageable energy consumption, thus resolving the contradiction between simplicity and productivity.
3Productivity
If the processor performs more operations in lower bit-width modes, then throughput increases, but energy consumption per operation decreases leading to inefficient energy utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the operation count adaptive to the operating mode. The processor dynamically adjusts the number of operations to achieve balanced energy consumption across all modes, which optimizes both throughput and energy utilization efficiency. This dynamic adjustment prevents energy waste while maximizing productivity in lower bit-width modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the operating mode information is used to adjust the number of operations. This feedback loop ensures that energy consumption remains balanced across different modes, optimizing both throughput and energy efficiency. The system uses mode information to feedback-adjust operation counts, achieving efficient energy utilization while maintaining high productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure include methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer-readable storage media for multi-mode integrated circuits with balanced energy consumption. A method includes determining, by one or more processors and based at least on a maximum energy threshold for planned multi-mode system having one or more processing units, a respective number of operations that can be performed per clock cycle by the processing units for each operating mode. The system is configured to consume the same amount of energy per clock cycle in each operating mode, but perform more operations in operating modes corresponding to operations performed on smaller bit-width operands.