Programmable Logic Thermal Reconfiguration to Avoid Throughput Throttling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Programmable devices face issues with high temperature operations, leading to throttling which reduces data throughput and can cause device malfunction, necessitating effective temperature monitoring and reconfiguration to prevent overheating.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and system that uses temperature sensors to determine regions of high temperature within a programmable device and relocates functions to other regions based on an alternative configuration, thereby avoiding throttling and maintaining data throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If functions are concentrated in specific programmable regions to optimize performance, then data throughput is improved, but temperature in those regions increases leading to throttling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic thermal management by continuously monitoring temperature sensors and relocating functions between programmable regions based on real-time temperature conditions. The system transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one where hot functions are moved from high-temperature regions to cooler regions, maintaining optimal performance while managing heat distribution across the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the programmable device into multiple independent regions that can be independently configured and managed. By segmenting the device architecture, the system can isolate hot functions in specific regions and relocate them to other segments when thermal thresholds are exceeded, preventing system-wide throttling and maintaining overall productivity.
2Temperature
If functions are relocated to cooler regions to manage temperature, then thermal conditions improve, but device complexity increases due to reconfiguration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an autonomous thermal management system where the programmable device monitors its own temperature conditions and automatically relocates functions without external intervention. The device self-diagnoses thermal issues and self-corrects by reconfiguring its internal architecture, reducing the need for complex external control mechanisms while managing temperature effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where temperature sensors continuously monitor thermal conditions and provide information to the control logic. This feedback loop enables the system to make informed decisions about function relocation, optimizing the balance between temperature management and operational complexity through data-driven reconfiguration decisions.
3Temperature
If throttling is applied to reduce temperature in high-temperature regions, then temperature is controlled, but data throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts hot functions from high-temperature regions and relocates them to cooler regions, separating the thermal management problem from the performance-critical operations. By taking out the heat-generating functions and placing them in thermally favorable regions, the system maintains data throughput without relying on throttling, thus preserving productivity while controlling temperature.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively manages high temperatures by reconfiguring the device to prevent overheating, ensuring continuous operation and maintaining data throughput without throttling.
Implementation Method 1
determining, through temperature sensors, the temperature associated with one or more regions of the programmable device
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus for monitoring and reconfiguring a programmable device are disclosed. In some implementations, the programmable device may include a processor and a plurality of satellite monitors to determine operating temperatures at various locations throughout the programmable device. When temperatures of at least some of the satellite monitors exceed a threshold, the processor may reconfigure the programmable device using an alternative configuration. The alternative configuration may provide equivalent functionality with respect to an initial configuration through a different arrangement of functional blocks within the programmable device. The new arrangement of functional blocks may reduce operating temperatures by relocating blocks to different regions of the programmable device.