Asymmetric Multi-Core Processor Sleep Control During Power Shortage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Security and home automation systems face challenges in maintaining reliable operation during power outages or shortages, as they require continuous power to accurately send and receive critical data, leading to potential undetected alarm conditions.
Innovation Solution
A multi-core processor is used with a master core executing a real-time operating system (RTOS) that periodically transitions between sleep and awake states to manage power consumption, while a slave core executing a full-blown operating system enters a deep sleep state during power shortages, optimizing power usage and ensuring critical tasks are completed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the processor operates continuously to maintain reliable operation during power outages, then system reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processor is divided into two independent cores: a first core that maintains the real-time operating system and continues operation during power outages, and a second core that enters sleep mode. This segmentation allows critical functions to remain reliable while non-critical functions consume minimal power, resolving the contradiction between system reliability and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of processor cores based on power availability. During normal operation, both cores are active. During power outages, the second core transitions to sleep mode while the first core remains active. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain reliability when needed while optimizing power consumption when power is limited.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the processor enters sleep mode to reduce power consumption during power shortages, then power consumption is reduced, but system response time worsens
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the processor into two cores with different functional roles, the system can place the second core in sleep mode to reduce power consumption while the first core remains awake to maintain real-time response capabilities. This segmentation eliminates the need to compromise response time when reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the processing system have different operational characteristics: the first core operates continuously with real-time responsiveness for critical functions, while the second core enters sleep mode for non-critical functions. This local differentiation of operational quality allows power reduction without compromising overall system response time for critical operations.
3Device complexity
If a single core handles all operations, then device complexity is reduced, but power management capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The processor is segmented into two cores with distinct responsibilities: the first core handles real-time operating system operations and power management decisions, while the second core handles additional processing tasks. This segmentation provides sophisticated power management capability through coordinated operation modes without introducing excessive complexity, as the segmentation is functionally driven and manageable.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques for using a multi-core processor for optimizing power consumption in a security and home automation system are described. The security and home automation system may include a multi-core processor having a first core and a second core. The first core may be partitioned from the second core to form an asymmetric multi-core processor. The first core is a master core assigned to execute a real time operating system (RTOS) and configured to periodically transition between a partial sleep state and an awake state during a power shortage condition. The second core is a slave core assigned to execute a standard operating system (OS) and configured to enter a deep sleep state during the power shortage condition.