Hardware Memory Controller Power Mode Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
In complex electronic circuits, managing memory access and power control to balance functionality and power efficiency is challenging, especially in mobile devices with multiple modules requiring real-time memory access, where traditional software-based power control is cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A memory controller with hardware-based logic that generates power and resource control commands to transition between different memory power modes, monitors buffers in parallel, and assigns access time values to prioritize memory access requests, ensuring efficient power management and timely memory access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If memory is powered down to reduce power consumption, then power savings are achieved, but memory access response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The memory controller predicts future memory access requests using historical access patterns and prepares the memory system in advance by transitioning from low-power mode to active mode before the actual access is needed. This preliminary action ensures that when a predicted access occurs, the memory is already ready, eliminating the access delay while maintaining power savings during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions between different power modes (low-power mode and active mode) based on real-time monitoring of memory access patterns and predictions. The memory controller continuously adapts the power state of the memory system, switching modes flexibly to optimize the trade-off between power consumption and access performance according to actual system needs.
2Speed
If hardware-based logic is used for power control, then response speed improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated memory controller as an intermediary component between the memory system and the processor. This specialized hardware controller handles all power management decisions, access pattern analysis, and mode transitions, offloading these complex functions from the main processor and providing fast hardware-based responses without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The memory controller implements self-service functionality by autonomously monitoring memory access patterns, predicting future accesses, and making power mode transition decisions without requiring software intervention. This self-managing hardware controller automatically optimizes power consumption while maintaining performance, reducing the need for complex software-based control mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
Controlling access to memory includes receiving a plurality of memory access requests and assigning corresponding time values to each. The assigned time values are adjusted based upon a clock pulse and a priority access list is generated. Factors consider include missed access deadlines, closeness to missing access deadlines, and whether a page is open. The highest ranked client is then passed to a sequencer to allow the requested access. Time values may be assigned and adjusted according to client ID or client type (latency or bandwidth). A plurality of power modes of operation are defined wherein operation in a selected power mode of operation is based at least in part on the assigned or adjusted time values. The processing is performed in hardware in parallel (at the same time) by associated logic circuits.