Mask Control Circuit for Semiconductor Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current semiconductor devices and processor systems face challenges in suppressing the increase in power consumption, particularly in radio communication terminals like cellular phones, due to high memory capacity and operating frequency demands, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a mask control circuit that monitors data transfer requests and generates a mask signal to sequentially output requests after a predetermined period, switching the memory mode to a power saving mode when no requests are made, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the capacity of memory is increased to satisfy baseband processor and application processor requirements, then the function and performance are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mask control circuit implements periodic action by cyclically switching between active and inactive states. During the inactive state, data transfer requests are suppressed and the memory enters power saving mode. The periodic activation allows the system to balance between performance requirements and power consumption by controlling the duty cycle of the mask signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation by monitoring data transfer request frequencies and adapting the mask period accordingly. The mask control circuit transitions between different operational states based on real-time conditions, enabling the memory to switch between normal operation and power saving modes dynamically rather than using a fixed configuration.
2Speed
If the operating frequency of processor is increased to satisfy performance requirements, then the function and performance are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mask control circuit applies periodic action by implementing cyclic mask periods that periodically suppress data transfer requests to the memory. This allows the processor to operate at high frequencies when needed while allowing the memory to enter low-power states during periods when data transfer demand is low, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining high operating frequency capability.
3Speed
If the memory operates in normal mode continuously to ensure data transfer performance, then the data transfer speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mask control circuit implements periodic action by switching between active and inactive states with controlled mask periods. During inactive periods, data transfer requests are suppressed and the memory enters power saving mode. The periodic nature allows the system to maintain high data transfer speeds when needed while reducing power consumption during lower-demand periods through controlled cycling between operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions between normal operation mode and power saving mode based on real-time monitoring of data transfer request frequencies. The mask control circuit adjusts the mask period and activation timing dynamically to match actual data transfer demands, enabling the memory to operate at high speed when required while minimizing power consumption during periods of low activity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a semiconductor device including: a plurality of processing circuits; an arbitration circuit that arbitrates a plurality of data transfer requests issued by the plurality of processing circuits; a mask control circuit that loads the plurality of data transfer requests arbitrated by the arbitration circuit, and sequentially outputs the plurality of data transfer requests after a lapse of a mask period; and a memory controller that accesses a memory based on the plurality of data transfer requests sequentially output from the mask control circuit, and switches a mode of the memory to a power saving mode when no data transfer request is output from the mask control circuit for a predetermined period.