Hierarchical Voltage Regulation for Low-Power High-Speed Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed data communications systems face challenges in minimizing power consumption and circuit delays due to stringent timing requirements, where the DFE compensation value cannot be determined in time at high data rates, leading to the use of speculative DFE methods that compromise performance.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic power control system that adjusts clock speeds and supply voltages dynamically to minimize power consumption by identifying and replicating critical paths within an on-chip test structure, allowing for verification during normal system operation and incorporating hierarchical dynamic voltage scaling to optimize power utilization across various operational conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If dynamic voltage scaling is applied to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but voltage noise and stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The power management system is segmented into multiple independent voltage regulators (off-chip switching voltage regulator, on-chip linear voltage regulator, and local voltage regulators) that can operate independently or in combination. This segmentation allows the system to reduce power consumption by activating only the necessary regulator stages while maintaining voltage stability through the hierarchical structure, where higher-level regulators provide stable baseline voltage and lower-level regulators provide localized precision without introducing excessive noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to voltage regulation by organizing regulators in multiple levels (off-chip, on-chip, and local). This dimensional organization allows the system to manage power consumption and noise characteristics separately at different hierarchical levels, enabling power reduction at lower levels while maintaining stability at higher levels, thus resolving the contradiction between power savings and noise/stability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If hierarchical multi-tier regulator supply is used to reduce voltage noise, then voltage noise is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex voltage regulation function is segmented into multiple specialized regulator stages, each handling a specific aspect of voltage management. The off-chip switching regulator handles bulk power conversion, the on-chip linear regulator provides intermediate regulation, and local regulators deliver precise voltage to specific circuits. This segmentation distributes complexity across multiple simple, focused components rather than requiring one complex regulator, making the overall system more manageable and maintainable.
3Use of energy by moving object
If dynamic voltage scaling is applied to minimize power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but circuit delays may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts voltage levels based on operational requirements through the hierarchical regulator structure. During high-performance modes, higher voltages are supplied to reduce circuit delays. During low-activity modes, voltage is reduced to minimize power consumption. The dynamic nature of this adjustment allows the system to optimize the trade-off between power consumption and circuit delay in real-time based on actual workload conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Obtaining a periodic test signal, sampling the periodic test signal using a sampling element according to a sampling clock to generate a sampled periodic output, the sampling element operating according to a supply voltage provided by a voltage regulator, the voltage regulator providing the supply voltage according to a supply voltage control signal, comparing the sampled periodic output to the sampling clock to generate a clock-to-Q measurement indicative of a delay value associated with the generation of the sampled periodic output in response to the sampling clock, generating the supply voltage control signal based at least in part on an average of the clock-to-Q measurement, and providing the supply voltage to a data sampling element connected to the voltage regulator, the data sampling element being a replica of the sampling element, the data sampling element sampling a stream of input data according to the sampling clock.