Functional Circuit Block Harvesting for Multi-Platform Power and Noise Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuits (ICs) with increased functionality face challenges in efficiently configuring and utilizing various functional circuit blocks across different computing platforms due to varying requirements, leading to potential power consumption and operational noise issues from unused or faulty circuit blocks.
Innovation Solution
The use of programmable registers to enable/disable specific functional circuit blocks in ICs/SoCs, allowing configuration for different platforms by inhibiting power and clock signals, and severing communication links to unused blocks, ensuring only necessary circuitry is active.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If functional circuit blocks are integrated into a single IC to increase functionality, then the versatility and integration level of the IC is improved, but the power consumption and operational noise from unused or faulty circuit blocks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The IC is divided into multiple independently controllable functional circuit blocks, each with its own power and clock control mechanisms. This segmentation allows selective activation of only the required blocks for a given application, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The IC incorporates dynamic power management through programmable registers that can enable or disable specific functional blocks based on the operating mode. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt power consumption to actual usage requirements, eliminating waste from unused blocks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If functional circuit blocks are integrated into a single IC to increase functionality, then the versatility and integration level of the IC is improved, but the operational noise from unused or faulty circuit blocks increases
Solution Approach 1:
Unused or faulty functional blocks are effectively removed from operation by disabling their power and clock signals. This extraction of harmful elements prevents them from generating spurious noise while retaining the physical infrastructure for potential future use.
Solution Approach 2:
The IC uses dynamic control mechanisms to activate or deactivate functional blocks based on operational requirements. This dynamic behavior ensures that only necessary blocks generate signals, minimizing operational noise from the system.
3Loss of energy
If an IC is configured for a specific computing platform, then the power consumption is reduced by disabling unused blocks, but the device complexity increases due to programmable registers and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The control mechanism uses universal programmable registers that can manage multiple functional blocks through a standardized interface. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control circuits for each block, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The IC changes operational parameters (power and clock signals) based on configuration requirements rather than changing the physical structure. This parameter-based control achieves platform-specific optimization without proportionally increasing hardware complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If an IC is designed with all possible functional blocks, then the adaptability to different platforms is improved, but the manufacturing yield decreases due to faulty or incapable blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The IC changes its operational configuration through programmable registers to match platform requirements. This parameter-based adaptability allows the same physical device to serve multiple platforms without requiring different manufacturing processes, thereby maintaining yield.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the IC into independently controllable blocks with individual status registers, the system can selectively activate only the functional blocks needed for a given platform. This segmentation allows partial functionality to be utilized even when some blocks are defective, improving manufacturing yield.
Data Source
AI summary
A configurable computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes a set of processing blocks and a set of programmable registers. A given one of the programmable registers corresponds to at least one of the processing blocks. The computer system is configured to receive a harvesting command that writes a disable value to a group of the programmable registers corresponding to a group of the set of processing blocks to be disabled for a selected computing platform of a plurality of different computing platforms. One or more hardware circuits are configured to perform tasks after a given boot of the computer system, the more tasks utilizing circuitry in the group of the set of processing blocks. A power control circuit is configured to, after tasks have been performed, temporarily disable the group of the set of processing blocks, thereby configuring the computer system for the selected computing platform.