Multi-phase Voltage Ramp Strategy for Processor Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power management systems in processors face challenges in efficiently controlling operating voltage frequency, leading to delayed low power state exits due to large voltage increases, which can result in increased latency and energy inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multi-phase voltage ramp strategy, where the voltage transition is segmented into two or more segments, allowing for a safe voltage level to be reached first, followed by additional voltage increases, thereby reducing latency and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a large voltage increase is applied to exit low power state, then the processor can quickly transition to active state, but the latency is increased and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage ramp is divided into multiple segments or phases. Instead of applying a single large voltage increase, the system applies smaller incremental voltage increases (e.g., 50 mV increments) allowing low power state exits to proceed without being delayed by a large voltage transition, thereby reducing exit latency while controlling energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage ramp strategy is made dynamic by adjusting the voltage increment size based on the number of active cores and system state. When fewer cores are active, smaller voltage increments can be used, optimizing the balance between exit speed and energy consumption for different operational scenarios.
2Productivity
If a large voltage increase is applied to support more active cores, then processing capacity increases, but energy consumption escalates
Solution Approach 1:
The operating voltage is dynamically adjusted based on the number of active cores. The system calculates the required voltage increment based on current core activity and applies only the necessary voltage increase, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining adequate processing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the voltage parameter incrementally based on workload requirements. By adjusting voltage in smaller steps (e.g., 50 mV increments) rather than large fixed increments, the system optimizes energy consumption while maintaining the ability to scale processing capacity as needed.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a processor includes a core domain with a plurality of cores and a power controller having a first logic to receive a first request to increase an operating voltage of a first core of the core domain to a second voltage, to instruct a voltage regulator to increase the operating voltage to an interim voltage, and to thereafter instruct the voltage regulator to increase the operating voltage to the second voltage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.