Voltage Sampling for Accurate DVFS Power Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for calculating power consumption during dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) in integrated circuits are inaccurate, leading to suboptimal performance and power tradeoffs due to changes in power supply voltage levels.
Innovation Solution
A power management circuit that includes a voltage regulator and power control circuit, which samples voltage levels at multiple time points during power state transitions, selects a particular sample, adjusts it using coefficients, and determines power consumption to accurately manage operation parameters such as voltage and clock frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional power consumption calculation methods are used during DVFS transitions, then the calculation process is simple, but the measurement precision is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power state transition process into multiple discrete sampling points in time. By dividing the continuous transition into discrete measurement moments, the system captures voltage and current characteristics at different stages of the transition, enabling more accurate power consumption calculation without requiring overly complex continuous monitoring circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic sampling and selection of voltage and current values based on the actual state of the power transition. The power management circuit dynamically determines which sampled values to use for calculation, adapting to the changing conditions during DVFS transitions. This dynamic approach improves measurement accuracy while maintaining manageable circuit complexity through intelligent control logic.
2Use of energy by moving object
If voltage levels are changed during DVFS, then power consumption can be reduced, but the reliability of power consumption measurement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary sampling of voltage and current values at multiple predetermined time points during the power state transition, before final power consumption calculations are made. This preliminary action allows the system to capture the evolving electrical characteristics during DVFS, ensuring reliable measurement data is available even as voltage levels change, thereby maintaining measurement reliability while enabling power consumption reduction through DVFS.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management circuit uses feedback from multiple voltage and current samples taken during the transition to determine the most representative values for power consumption calculation. By continuously monitoring and comparing sampled values against expected transition profiles, the system can identify and use reliable measurement data, compensating for the disturbances caused by changing voltage levels during DVFS operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for adjusting operation parameters of a computer system based on power consumption of the computer system is disclosed. During a power state transition of the computer system, a voltage level of a power supply signal may be sampled at a plurality of time points to generate a multiple voltage level samples. A voltage level of a selected one of the multiple voltage level samples may be adjusted using a particular coefficient of multiple coefficients to generate an updated voltage level sample. A power consumption of the computer system may be determined using the updated voltage level sample, and based on the power consumption, at least one operation parameter of the computer system may be adjusted.