On-Chip Power Budget Tracking for Fast Thermal Limit Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing power consumption of modern integrated circuits leads to excessive heat generation, which is not efficiently managed by existing cooling systems, resulting in system cost increases and potential failure, with external agents responding too slowly to power consumption fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A power manager on the semiconductor chip dynamically adjusts operating parameters of multiple partitions by setting and updating power limits based on real-time power consumption measurements and temperature data, allowing for rapid power reduction within nanosecond to microsecond intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If larger fans and heat sinks are utilized to remove excess heat, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but system costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power manager proactively monitors power consumption and temperature in real-time, and preemptively adjusts operating parameters (clock frequencies, voltages) before thermal problems occur, eliminating the need for oversized cooling systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operating parameters based on real-time power consumption and temperature measurements, allowing the integrated circuit to adapt its power consumption profile to match actual thermal conditions, thereby reducing peak heat generation
2Extent of automation
If external agents adjust operating parameters to manage power consumption, then power management capability is improved, but response time is too slow allowing power limit violations
Solution Approach 1:
The power manager continuously monitors power consumption and temperature in real-time, and preemptively adjusts operating parameters before power limits are violated, eliminating delays associated with reactive external control
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated circuit includes an onboard power manager that autonomously monitors its own power consumption and temperature, and self-adjusts operating parameters without requiring external intervention, achieving nanosecond to microsecond response times
3Reliability
If power consumption limits are enforced to prevent overheating, then thermal safety is improved, but productivity is reduced due to power consumption restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts operating parameters based on real-time power consumption and temperature measurements, allowing the integrated circuit to adapt its power consumption profile to match actual thermal conditions, thereby reducing peak heat generation while maintaining performance
Solution Approach 2:
The power manager operates in periodic cycles, monitoring power consumption and temperature, comparing against thresholds, and adjusting parameters as needed, enabling continuous optimization of the balance between performance and thermal safety
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for efficiently managing power consumption of multiple partitions of an integrated circuit. A processing unit includes multiple partitions, each assigned to operation parameters of a respective power domain. Each of the partitions is assigned to operating parameters of a respective power domain. A power manager accesses a total power consumption budget for the multiple partitions and sends corresponding assigned power limits to the multiple partitions. A particular partition calculates a corresponding measurement of power consumption as a weighted sum of sampled signals, and performs steps to reduce power consumption when the particular partition determines the corresponding measurement of power consumption exceeds a corresponding assigned power limit. The power manager updates the assigned power limits within a first time interval. The multiple partitions calculate the power consumption measurements and perform power reduction steps within a second time interval less than the first time interval.