Dynamic Power Group Decay for Mobile Device Energy Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
As computing devices become smaller and more mobile, managing power efficiently becomes crucial due to limited power sources, with static power dissipation potentially equaling dynamic power dissipation, necessitating effective power management techniques to optimize energy use.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a power management method that dynamically determines which logic blocks in a device are active or inactive, using a power management unit to identify necessary power groups for instruction execution and control clocking and power states, allowing only relevant blocks to remain active and disabling power for unneeded blocks, with automatic decay to a powered-off state when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all logic blocks remain active to ensure continuous operation, then device reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processor is divided into multiple power groups, each capable of independent power management. This segmentation allows selective powering off of specific logic blocks while maintaining others, resolving the contradiction between overall reliability and power consumption by enabling granular control over which segments remain active.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management system dynamically adjusts the power state of different logic blocks based on current operational requirements. The power management unit continuously monitors instruction schedules and instructions in flight, adapting power group states in real-time to balance reliability needs with power conservation opportunities.
2Use of energy by moving object
If power groups are dynamically powered off to reduce energy use, then power consumption decreases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power management unit operates autonomously by monitoring instruction schedules and automatically determining when power groups can be safely powered off. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for external intervention or complex user-side management, simplifying the overall system architecture despite the dynamic power control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management unit incorporates feedback mechanisms by monitoring instructions in flight and schedule information to make informed decisions about power group states. This feedback loop ensures safe power management while maintaining system functionality, reducing the complexity burden through intelligent automation.
3Loss of energy
If static power dissipation is reduced through better power management, then energy efficiency improves, but control mechanisms become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the processor into power groups, the system can apply targeted power management to reduce static power dissipation in inactive regions without requiring complex system-wide control mechanisms. Each power group can be independently managed based on local operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management unit changes operational parameters (power state, clocking) of different logic blocks dynamically based on workload requirements. This parameter-based approach enables efficient static power dissipation reduction through straightforward state transitions rather than complex control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A power management method and mechanism for dynamically determining which of a plurality of blocks of an electrical device may be powered on or off. A device is contemplated which includes one or more power manageable groups. A power management unit associated with the apparatus is configured to detect instructions which are scheduled for execution, identify particular power group(s) which may be required for execution of the instruction, and convey an indication which prevents the particular power group(s) from entering a powered off state, in response to detecting said instruction. If the power management unit does not detect an incoming or pending instructions, for a predetermined period of time, which requires a particular power group(s) for execution, the power management unit may convey an indication which causes or permits the corresponding power group(s) to enter a powered off state. A power group may automatically decay to a powered off state in the absence of a detected instruction requiring the power group. Instructions may be encoded to identify required power groups.