Clock Controller State Machine for Voltage Droop Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in balancing power consumption and performance due to transient voltage droops, which can lead to increased power consumption, heat dissipation issues, and potential device failure, especially in safety-critical applications.
Innovation Solution
A control state machine in a clock controller circuit that signals requests to subordinate state machines for droop mitigation, hardware acceleration during DVFS transitions, and real-time current reduction in case of overcurrent, utilizing a four-state handshaking protocol for coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current is increased to maintain performance during voltage droop, then circuit performance is maintained, but power consumption increases and heat dissipation problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of voltage droop conditions and preemptively adjusts clock frequency or activates mitigation techniques before the droop severely impacts performance. This prevents the need for aggressive current increases later, thereby avoiding excessive power consumption and heat generation while maintaining circuit reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex control systems are implemented to balance power consumption and performance, then system management capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clock control circuit incorporates autonomous monitoring and adjustment capabilities that automatically detect voltage droop conditions and implement mitigation strategies without requiring complex external control systems. The circuit self-regulates clock frequency and coordinates with power management units, providing adaptive system management while minimizing additional device complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If DVFS is used for dynamic power management, then power consumption is reduced, but system complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clock control circuit's droop mitigation functionality with the DVFS power management system, creating a unified control mechanism. The clock controller and power management unit coordinate through integrated signaling protocols, allowing dynamic voltage and frequency scaling to be performed seamlessly while maintaining voltage stability during transitions, thereby reducing power consumption without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present techniques relate to a clock control scheme and related methods and circuitry in a system comprising one or more processor cores and there is disclosed a control state machine in a clock controller circuit comprises a sender operable to signal a request to a subordinate state machine and to store a request sent indicator in a store; a first receiver operable to receive an acknowledgement indicator signalled by the subordinate state machine and to clear the request sent indicator in the store; a delay component operable to hold the control state machine in a wait state; a second receiver operable to receive a request complete indicator signalled by the subordinate state machine; and the delay component responsive to receipt of the request complete indicator to release the control state machine from the wait state.