Memory Controller Power Management via Dynamic Region Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern devices face increased power consumption due to higher memory usage, with existing systems unable to individually control memory power consumption, leading to degraded performance.
Innovation Solution
A memory controller identifies and manages different areas of memory to operate at varying power levels, transferring frequently accessed data to regions with higher power levels and less frequently accessed data to regions with reduced or off power levels, allowing for optimized power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If memory size is increased to accommodate higher memory usage, then memory capacity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The memory is divided into multiple independently controllable regions or banks, allowing selective power management. Frequently accessed data is kept in active regions while less frequently accessed data is moved to standby or powered-off regions, enabling the system to maintain adequate memory capacity while reducing overall power consumption by not keeping the entire memory array active.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic power management where memory regions can transition between different power states (active, standby, powered-off) based on real-time access patterns. The system dynamically adjusts which regions remain active and which are powered down, allowing the memory capacity to effectively adapt to current needs while optimizing power consumption.
2Device complexity
If memory operates in a single power consumption mode, then power management simplicity is improved, but device performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The memory is segmented into multiple regions that can operate independently at different power levels. This segmentation enables the system to maintain simple overall control architecture while achieving sophisticated power management at the region level, thereby improving device performance without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the memory are assigned different power consumption characteristics based on their access patterns. Frequently accessed regions operate at higher power levels to ensure fast access, while less frequently accessed regions operate at lower power levels. This local differentiation of power quality allows the system to optimize performance for critical operations while reducing overall power consumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If memory is placed in standby or off mode when device is in standby or off mode, then power consumption is improved, but data accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The memory is divided into regions that can be independently controlled. When the device enters standby or off mode, only the least frequently accessed regions are powered down, while frequently accessed regions remain active or are quickly woken up. This segmentation ensures that data accessibility speed is maintained for critical operations while still achieving significant power savings from the powered-off regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-warming frequently accessed memory regions before the device needs to resume from standby or off mode. This ensures that data accessibility speed is maintained for critical operations while still achieving power savings from the powered-off regions.
4Speed
If frequently accessed data is stored in high power level regions, then data accessibility performance is improved, but overall power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The memory is segmented into regions with different power levels. Frequently accessed data is placed in regions that can operate at higher power levels to ensure fast access, while less frequently accessed data is placed in regions that can operate at lower power levels. This segmentation allows the system to optimize data accessibility performance for critical operations while reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which regions operate at higher power levels based on real-time access patterns. When a region is frequently accessed, it is assigned to operate at a higher power level to ensure fast data accessibility. When access patterns change, the system can dynamically reassign regions to different power levels, optimizing the balance between performance and power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory controller for managing data and power in a memory is described. In some implementations, the memory controller is configured to identify a first area of the memory to be operated at a first power level, identify a second area of the memory to be operated at a second power level, transfer data in a region in the second area to a region in the first area, maintain a mapping of an address associated with the region in the second area to an address associated with the region in the first area, operate the first area at the first power level, and operate the second area at the second power level.