Multi-Core IC Power Overdrive for Fast Vehicle Boot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuits in vehicles face challenges in meeting stringent boot time requirements within a cost-effective and stress-minimal manner, particularly in environments like automobiles where subsystems need to be ready within a short time period, such as less than 200 ms, due to demanding operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A controller manages power in an integrated circuit with multiple processor cores by overdriving a subset of cores during high-speed activation, increasing clock frequency and voltage temporarily to facilitate rapid booting, while keeping other cores in an idle state to minimize power consumption and stress on components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If clock frequency is increased to reduce boot time, then startup speed is improved, but power consumption and thermal stress increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts clock frequency based on operational phase: during boot-up, frequency is increased to maximum to achieve fast startup; during normal operation, frequency is reduced to standard levels to minimize power consumption. This dynamic frequency scaling resolves the contradiction by applying high frequency only when absolutely necessary for short durations.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor operates in periodic cycles alternating between high-frequency boot mode and low-frequency normal mode. The boot phase uses elevated clock frequency for a limited time period, then transitions to sustained lower frequency operation, creating a periodic pattern that balances startup performance with ongoing power efficiency.
2Loss of time
If clock frequency is increased to reduce boot time, then startup speed is improved, but component stress and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic frequency management where clock frequency is temporarily elevated only during the boot sequence and then automatically reduced to normal operating levels. This dynamic adjustment ensures that high-stress conditions are applied only briefly during startup, preventing cumulative thermal and electrical stress that would compromise component reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-frequency mode is used to rapidly skip through the critical boot-up phase and transition quickly to normal operation. By rushing through the startup sequence at elevated frequency and then maintaining lower frequencies, the system minimizes the duration of high-stress conditions, thereby protecting component reliability while achieving fast boot times.
3Productivity
If all processor cores are activated during boot-up, then processing capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processor cores are segmented into different operational groups: one or more cores are activated at high frequency to handle critical boot-up tasks, while other cores remain in low-power states or are activated at lower frequencies. This segmentation allows the system to distribute the boot workload strategically, achieving necessary processing capability while minimizing total power consumption by not activating all cores at full power.
Solution Approach 2:
Different processor cores are assigned different operational characteristics during boot-up based on their specific roles. Critical cores handling essential startup functions operate at high frequency, while non-critical cores remain in lower-power states. This local differentiation of operational quality ensures processing capability is provided where absolutely necessary while conserving power in areas where full performance is not required.
Data Source
AI summary
Controlling a vehicle comprises: providing, from an activation port, an activation signal for activating control of at least one of one or more electronically controllable devices during a high-speed activation time interval; and managing power consumed by an integrated circuit that includes two or more processor cores during the high-speed activation time interval. The managing includes: receiving the activation signal from the activation port, in response to the activation signal, executing at least a portion of stored code by a first subset of fewer than all of the processor cores at a first power level, and after the high-speed activation time interval, executing at least a portion of the stored code by a second subset of one or more of the processor cores at a second power level lower than the first power level.