On-Chip Power Metering With Automated Signal Proxy Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Measuring the power usage of individual chips or chip modules in digital electronic circuits is challenging due to the complexity of monitoring electrical signals at hundreds of thousands of logic gates, making it impractical to monitor all signals effectively.
Innovation Solution
An automated method for designing an on-chip power meter that selects a subset of signals as power proxies through computer simulation, synthesizing a power meter circuit that estimates power usage using toggle data and corresponding coefficients, implemented with AND gates and adders without multipliers for per-cycle monitoring, and cascaded with shifters and adders for multi-cycle averaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all electrical signals at logic gates are monitored to measure power usage accurately, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the power measurement task into segments by selecting a representative subset of signals (power proxies) rather than monitoring all signals. The circuit is segmented into proxy signal locations and non-proxy locations, with only proxy signals being monitored to estimate overall power consumption. This segmentation reduces the number of monitored signals from hundreds of thousands to a manageable subset while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary power proxy signals as mediators between the actual power consumption and the measurement system. These proxy signals are selected from specific circuit locations and serve as representatives that correlate with overall power usage. The measurement system monitors these intermediary proxy signals rather than directly measuring all power-consuming signals, thereby simplifying the monitoring infrastructure.
2Device complexity
If a subset of power proxy signals is selected to reduce monitoring complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by automatically selecting optimal power proxy signal locations before the actual power measurement takes place. The selection process analyzes circuit characteristics and identifies which signal locations best represent overall power consumption. This preliminary selection ensures that the reduced set of proxy signals will accurately correlate with total power usage, maintaining measurement precision despite monitoring fewer signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by optimizing the selection of proxy signal locations based on circuit-specific characteristics. Different circuits have different optimal proxy locations, and the system adapts by selecting proxies that maximize correlation with actual power consumption. This parameter optimization ensures that the subset of monitored signals accurately represents overall power usage without requiring full-signal monitoring.
3Ease of manufacture
If automated power proxy selection is implemented, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the power measurement system to automatically select its own proxy signals without manual intervention. The system analyzes the circuit description, identifies optimal proxy locations, and configures the measurement infrastructure autonomously. This self-service capability simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating manual signal selection while the automation handles the complexity of optimal proxy identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated signal selection process performs preliminary analysis during the design phase, identifying optimal power proxies before fabrication. This preliminary action generates configuration data that guides the physical implementation, separating the complex selection logic from the manufacturing process. The complexity is resolved in the design phase through automated analysis, while manufacturing benefits from the simplified configuration output.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit includes a first circuit and a power meter coupled to the first circuit at selected proxy locations. The power meter includes circuitry for generating toggle data, such as signal transitions or signal levels, from signals at the proxy locations and combiner circuitry for combining the toggle data in a first time window with a set of weight value to produce a measure of power usage in the first circuit. The proxy locations and weight values are selected automatically based on simulated or emulated signals from a larger set of locations in the first circuit and associated power usage in the first circuit.