Multi-Chip Power Monitoring via Common Node Current Summing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multiple-chip packages, concurrent high-current operations often exceed the peak power consumption limit, leading to inefficient power usage as the system blocks higher current operations even when not all dice are active, resulting in underutilization of power capacity.
Innovation Solution
Each die in the package monitors a shared common node for total power consumption and indicates its own power usage, allowing them to schedule operations without exceeding the peak power limit by aggregating individual power usage values and providing feedback to other dice, enabling efficient use of the power network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the system blocks higher current operations to stay within peak power limits, then power consumption is controlled, but productivity decreases due to underutilization of power capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where each die monitors the common power network node and reports its power consumption status. The power management logic receives feedback about current power usage and dynamically adjusts operation scheduling, allowing the system to maximize productivity while staying within peak power limits by making informed decisions based on real-time power consumption data.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management system dynamically adjusts operation scheduling based on real-time power consumption monitoring. Instead of static power limiting that blocks operations, the system continuously monitors the common node voltage and current draw, dynamically enabling or disabling operations on individual dice to optimize both power utilization and task execution efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If all dice are monitored individually for power consumption, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power consumption monitoring function into a shared common node that all dice connect to. Instead of requiring separate monitoring circuits for each die, the system combines monitoring at a common power network node, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through the shared monitoring infrastructure and centralized power management logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique to provide power management for multiple dice. The technique provides for determining for each respective die of the multiple dice, power consumption for operating each respective die; and generating a respective analog current from each respective die that corresponds to the power consumption of each respective die. The technique further provides for driving each respective analog current onto a common node that results in a cumulative analog current; and utilizing the cumulative analog current at the common node to indicate total power consumption of the dice.