Client Voltage Scaling for Power Droop-Aware Subsystem Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power management systems in computing devices provide a static power supply that meets the worst-case power requirements of components, leading to unnecessary power consumption, thermal heating, component wear, and increased costs, even when components only require less power during specific use cases.
Innovation Solution
Implementing dynamic voltage adjustments based on identified current profiles and peak impedance for individual use cases, allowing the system power manager to reduce voltage levels to maintain minimum voltage during potential maximum currents, thereby optimizing power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stable power supply is provided to maintain sufficient power for worst-case scenarios, then voltage droop is avoided during maximum power demands, but unnecessary power consumption increases and components operate at higher thermal profiles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage adjustment by allowing clients to specify voltage reductions for different use cases based on their actual power requirements. The system transitions from a static worst-case voltage supply to a dynamic voltage supply that adapts to real-time power needs, reducing voltage during low-power use cases while maintaining it during high-power scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage parameter from a fixed worst-case value to a variable value that adjusts based on the client's actual power requirements. Clients can specify voltage reductions for different use cases, and the system applies these parameter changes to optimize power consumption while maintaining reliability when needed.
2Use of energy by moving object
If voltage is reduced to match actual power requirements, then power consumption and thermal profiles decrease, but voltage droop may occur during maximum power demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having clients pre-specify voltage reductions for different use cases before executing workloads. The client analyzes its power requirements in advance and communicates the appropriate voltage reduction to the system power manager, allowing the system to prepare and apply the correct voltage level before the workload executes, thus avoiding voltage droop.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having clients monitor their own power requirements and communicate this information back to the system power manager. The system uses this feedback to adjust voltage levels dynamically, ensuring that voltage stability is maintained during maximum power demands while reducing voltage during lower-power scenarios.
3Reliability
If worst-case power requirements are provisioned for all components, then sufficient power is available during maximum demands, but excess power provision increases operational costs and component wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different voltage levels to be applied to different clients or components based on their specific power requirements. Instead of uniformly provisioning worst-case power to all components, the system tailors the voltage supply to each client's actual needs, reducing excess power provision while maintaining reliability for each individual component.
4Use of energy by moving object
If dynamic voltage adjustment is implemented, then power consumption is optimized for actual use cases, but system complexity increases due to client-side voltage management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by empowering clients to manage their own voltage requirements. Each client analyzes its own power needs, determines appropriate voltage reductions for different use cases, and communicates these requirements to the system power manager. This distributes the complexity management to the clients themselves rather than centralizing it in the power management system.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments include methods performed by a processor system of a computing device for dynamically adjusting voltages for client components. The processor system may identify a potential current profile for a client use case, identify a voltage reduction for the client use case, and transmit the voltage reduction for the client use case to a system power manager. The processor system may identify the potential current profile for the client use case based on a maximum current for the client and a potential maximum current for the client use case. The processor system may cause the system power manager to reduce a client voltage to a voltage level that maintains client voltage at a level greater than a minimum client voltage during a voltage droop caused by a potential maximum current for the client use case.