IC Partition Power Sharing via Header Switch Reallocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large-scale integrated circuits face performance variations across semiconductor dies due to factors like local circuit densities and power distribution offsets, limiting the operating frequency and overall performance.

Innovation Solution

A method is implemented to identify slower partition units within a multicore processor and add a metal mask between header switches to allow sharing of power distribution from adjacent higher performing units, using programmable headers to reallocate subsets of power headers and enhance the performance of slower units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the operating frequency is set to accommodate the slowest component, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating frequency marginVSAvoidoperating frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The semiconductor die is divided into multiple partition units with separate power distribution networks. Each partition unit has its own header switches that can be independently controlled, allowing different operating frequencies for different partitions based on their performance characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The header switches are programmable and can be reconfigured dynamically. The system identifies slower partition units and reassigns their header switches to faster partition units, enabling the overall system to operate at higher frequencies while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If power distribution is optimized for each partition unit, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower distribution uniformityVSAvoidheader switch configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Header switches are designed to serve multiple partition units. Instead of dedicated header switches for each partition unit, the same header switches can be reassigned to different partitions through programming, reducing overall complexity while maintaining power distribution precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the configuration parameters of header switches dynamically. By identifying performance characteristics of partition units and reassigning header switches accordingly, the system optimizes power distribution without requiring complex hardwired configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10061368B2Enhancing performance of one or more slower partitions of an integrated circuit to improve performance of the integrated circuit

Publication Date: 2018.08.28 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

On a semiconductor die, a testing controller identifies a first partition unit with a first operating frequency lower than a second operating frequency of an adjacent second partition unit. A metal mask is added between one or more first header switches of the first partition unit and one or more second header switches of the second partition unit to allow the first partition unit to use a selection of the one or more second header switches for power distribution to the first partition unit.