Interconnect Voltage Sensing via Switched Sample Point Pairs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies struggle to efficiently monitor and manage power delivery variations across multiple pairs of sample points in integrated circuits, particularly in multi-chip packaged devices, leading to inefficiencies in energy consumption and conservation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing switch circuitry to selectively couple a voltage sensor to multiple pairs of sample points across interconnect structures, enabling fine-grained evaluation of power delivery by sensing voltage differentials at various locations within the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple voltage sensors are used to monitor all sample points simultaneously, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple voltage sensors are merged into a single voltage sensor through the switch circuitry. The switch circuitry selectively connects different sample point pairs to the single voltage sensor, allowing one sensor to perform the function of multiple sensors by time-division multiplexing the measurement locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The single voltage sensor is given multi-functionality through the switch circuitry that routes different sample point pairs to it. This allows the same sensor to monitor voltages at multiple different locations sequentially, making it a universal measurement tool for all sample points.
2Measurement precision
If all sample point pairs are monitored continuously, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring of all sample points, the system uses periodic action by sequentially selecting and measuring different sample point pairs through the switch circuitry. The switch circuitry alternates between different sample point pairs, enabling comprehensive power delivery evaluation over time while consuming less energy than continuous simultaneous monitoring would require.
3Device complexity
If a single voltage sensor is used for all sample points, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static configuration where each sample point would need its own dedicated sensor to a dynamic configuration where a single sensor can measure multiple sample points sequentially. The switch circuitry dynamically routes different sample point pairs to the single voltage sensor, maintaining measurement precision through controlled sequential access while reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Techniques and mechanisms for sensing a voltage difference across two interconnect structures of a multi-chip packaged device. In an embodiment, the interconnect structures provide respective voltages to each of multiple integrated circuit (IC) chips of the packaged device. Switch circuitry of the packaged device is operable to provide any of multiple modes which each switchedly couple a voltage sensor to a different respective one of various sample point pairs of the interconnect structures. Control circuitry operates the switch circuitry to selectively provide one of the multiple modes based on an indication of a workload to be performed with one or more of the IC chips. In another embodiment, the voltage sensor senses the voltages each at a respective sample point of a sample point pair which corresponds to the selected mode of the switch circuitry.