Hardware Power Control for Functional Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices face insufficient battery life due to increased power requirements and limited space, with existing power management techniques often leading to inefficiencies and improper management of system resources, particularly due to software-based power distribution that relies on physical hardware interconnections.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a power control management system where each functional block has its own power controls and low-level software, with the actual operating power state set entirely by hardware through physical power control registers, eliminating the need for software to manage physical coupling relationships and reducing power management inefficiencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If software-based power distribution is used to manage power requirements of individual components, then power management flexibility is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to incorrect power state settings and improper management of common resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the power management system into separate functional blocks, each with its own power control unit. This segmentation allows independent control of power states for different components while maintaining system-wide coordination through hardware logic, thereby improving both flexibility and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces hardware-based power control units as intermediaries between the functional blocks and the power distribution system. These units translate software power management requests into hardware-controlled power states, eliminating direct software control issues while maintaining flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If low-level software manages power distribution among components, then power allocation adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to cumbersome software design and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the software-based power management system with a hardware-based system. Power control units implemented in hardware logic directly manage power distribution without requiring complex software to track physical interconnections, thereby reducing software complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each functional block is equipped with its own power control unit that autonomously manages its power state based on local conditions and global power management signals. This self-service approach eliminates the need for centralized software management, reducing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If functional blocks are densely populated in integrated circuits to increase functionality, then device versatility is improved, but power consumption increases leading to insufficient battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management where each functional block can independently transition between different power states (active, idle, sleep) based on actual usage conditions. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain high functionality when needed while minimizing power consumption during low-activity periods, extending battery life.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is disclosed for efficiently managing power distribution among the various functional blocks used within portable electronic devices. The method includes allowing each functional block to be independently controlled, containing its own low-level software and power controls for setting the local power state of the functional block. For each power control domain in the implementation, hardware uses these local power states and sets the actual operating state of the power control domain accordingly.