Hierarchical Regulator Voltage Scaling for Clock-to-Q Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed data communications systems face significant power consumption challenges due to stringent timing requirements, where conventional Decision Feedback Equalization (DFE) methods are inadequate at high data rates, leading to circuit delays and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic power control system that dynamically adjusts clock speeds and supply voltages by identifying critical paths and using speculative DFE, along with hierarchical dynamic voltage scaling, to minimize power consumption while maintaining system performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional Decision Feedback Equalization (DFE) methods are used in high-speed data communications, then the system can operate at high data rates, but circuit delays increase and power consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage scaling that adjusts supply voltage levels based on operating conditions and data rate requirements. The system transitions from static voltage supply to dynamic adjustment, where voltage is scaled down when high performance is not needed, reducing power consumption while maintaining the capability to operate at high data rates when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the voltage parameter dynamically based on operational needs. By adjusting the supply voltage to match the actual performance requirements at different data rates, the system avoids the constant high power consumption associated with conventional DFE methods that must maintain fixed high voltage levels to handle worst-case scenarios.
2Reliability
If conventional DFE methods are used to maintain system performance, then reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic voltage scaling that adapts supply voltage to actual system needs. The system monitors performance requirements and adjusts voltage dynamically, maintaining reliable operation when needed while reducing power consumption during normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and power usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes voltage parameters based on operational conditions and performance monitoring. By adjusting the supply voltage to match actual system requirements rather than maintaining fixed high levels, the system preserves reliability while significantly reducing power consumption compared to conventional approaches.
3Use of energy by moving object
If voltage is reduced to minimize power consumption, then power efficiency improves, but circuit delays increase and system performance may degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage scaling that adjusts voltage levels based on actual performance requirements. The system can operate at lower voltages for power efficiency when high speed is not needed, and dynamically increase voltage when performance requirements demand higher circuit speeds, thus resolving the trade-off between power consumption and circuit speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Obtaining a periodic test signal, sampling the periodic test signal using a sampling element according to a sampling clock to generate a sampled periodic output, the sampling element operating according to a supply voltage provided by a voltage regulator, the voltage regulator providing the supply voltage according to a supply voltage control signal, comparing the sampled periodic output to the sampling clock to generate a clock-to-Q measurement indicative of a delay value associated with the generation of the sampled periodic output in response to the sampling clock, generating the supply voltage control signal based at least in part on an average of the clock-to-Q measurement, and providing the supply voltage to a data sampling element connected to the voltage regulator, the data sampling element being a replica of the sampling element, the data sampling element sampling a stream of input data according to the sampling clock.