Integrated Baseband and Application CPU Architecture for Mobile SoCs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current semiconductor integrated circuit devices in cellular phones face challenges in processing high-performance applications like voice and image processing due to high-level OS limitations, power consumption issues with multiple processors, and difficulties in designing protocol stacks for multiple wireless communication protocols, leading to inefficient processing capacity and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor integrated circuit device with a base band processing unit, a first system processing unit, and a second system processing unit integrated on a single chip, connected via bus bridges for shared memory access and interruption control, allowing for efficient data transfer and reduced power consumption by separating processor regions and using high-speed and low-leak transistors accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an accelerator processor is independently mounted to compensate for processing capacity deficiency, then real-time processing capability is improved, but power consumption increases due to large data transfer requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the base band processor and application processor onto a single semiconductor chip, creating an integrated processing system. This integration reduces the need for large amounts of data transfer between independently mounted processors, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining real-time processing capability through shared memory resources and optimized data pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a memory controller as an intermediary component that manages data transfer between the base band processor, application processor, and memory systems. This mediator optimizes data flow and reduces unnecessary data transmission, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining processing efficiency.
2Productivity
If two processors for WCDMA/GSM are independently mounted to achieve high performance wireless service, then protocol processing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple protocol processing functions into a single integrated base band processor that handles both WCDMA and GSM protocols. This consolidation reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple independently mounted processors while maintaining high protocol processing capability through shared hardware resources and unified control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The base band processor is designed with multi-functionality to support multiple wireless communication protocols (WCDMA, GSM, etc.) within a single processing unit. This universal design reduces device complexity while maintaining the ability to process multiple protocols simultaneously or sequentially.
3Speed
If the base band processor uses high-speed transistors to improve processing capacity, then protocol stack processing speed is improved, but leak current increases to an unallowable range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by putting the base band processor into sleep mode during periods when protocol processing is not required (e.g., during idle time between communications). The processor is activated only when needed for protocol stack processing, thereby reducing average leak current while maintaining high processing speed when actively operating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the base band processor to dynamically switch between different operational states (active, idle, sleep) based on communication requirements. This dynamic state management allows the use of high-speed transistors during active processing while minimizing leak current during idle periods, achieving both high processing capacity and acceptable power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing load of a high performance application processing such as a voice, an image and the like is reduced, and a processing capacity of a base band processing is improved. A semiconductor integrated circuit device used in a mobile communication system such as a cellular phone is provided with a base band CPU block performing a base band processing for executing a base band protocol stack, an application system CPU block executing a high-level OS and controlling applications other than the base band processing, an application real-time CPU block executing a real-time OS and the like and controlling an image/voice processing, all of which are formed on one semiconductor chip. Further, internal high-speed buses to which these CPU blocks are connected are respectively connected via bridges.