Dynamic Pipeline Stage Reconfiguration for Power-Performance Trade-offs

Solution Overview

Problem

Current processors face a trade-off between power consumption and performance, as they cannot efficiently adjust pipeline structures to meet varying application requirements, leading to suboptimal power usage and performance for different tasks.

Innovation Solution

An electronic system with a pipeline structure that can dynamically change the number of pipeline stages and clock frequency, allowing it to adapt to different tasks by morphing its pipeline configuration through mechanisms like fusing and splitting stages, and adjusting clock phasing and voltage control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If the clock frequency is reduced to lower power consumption, then power consumption decreases, but performance is proportionally decreased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidperformance

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The pipeline structure is made dynamically reconfigurable, allowing the number of pipeline stages to be changed based on application requirements. This enables the system to adapt its performance characteristics in real-time, breaking the fixed trade-off between power and performance. The pipeline can be morphed between different stage configurations to optimize for either power efficiency or performance as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the structural parameter of the pipeline (number of stages) rather than just operating parameters like frequency and voltage. By morphing the pipeline between different stage configurations, the system can achieve optimal power-performance trade-offs for different applications without being constrained to a single fixed structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the number of pipeline stages is increased to improve performance, then processing throughput increases, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing throughputVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The pipeline structure is made dynamically reconfigurable, allowing the number of pipeline stages to be changed based on application requirements. This enables the system to adapt its performance characteristics in real-time, breaking the fixed trade-off between power and performance. The pipeline can be morphed between different stage configurations to optimize for either power efficiency or performance as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the structural parameter of the pipeline (number of stages) rather than just operating parameters like frequency and voltage. By morphing the pipeline between different stage configurations, the system can achieve optimal power-performance trade-offs for different applications without being constrained to a single fixed structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the pipeline structure is fixed for general-purpose use, then versatility is maintained, but application-specific optimization is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegeneral-purpose capabilityVSAvoidapplication-specific efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The pipeline structure is made dynamically reconfigurable, allowing the number of pipeline stages to be changed based on application requirements. This enables the system to adapt its performance characteristics in real-time, breaking the fixed trade-off between power and performance. The pipeline can be morphed between different stage configurations to optimize for either power efficiency or performance as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pipeline structure is designed to perform multiple functions by being reconfigurable between different stage configurations. A single pipeline can be morphed to suit different application requirements, making the processor universally applicable while maintaining application-specific optimization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7971043B2Electronic system and method for changing number of operation stages of a pipeline

Publication Date: 2011.06.28 ANDES TECH

AI summary

An electronic system includes a pipeline having a first number of pipeline stages coupled in series, a pipeline control unit, and a logic engine, wherein each pipeline stage in the pipeline is for outputting data to a next pipeline stage at each cycle of a clock signal. The pipeline control unit is for changing the first number of pipeline stages in the pipeline to a second number of pipeline stages. The logic engine is for performing operations of the electronic system in a first mode by utilizing the pipeline having the first number of pipeline stages and for performing operations of the electronic system in a second mode by utilizing the pipeline having the second number of pipeline stages. A frequency control unit and a voltage control unit, coupled to the pipeline and the logic engine, respectively adjust the frequency and voltage of the electronic system accordingly.