PCIe Bandwidth Throttling With Delay Insertion for Power and Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuit (IC) devices face challenges in managing power consumption and temperature, particularly under dynamically variable workloads, leading to underutilized resources and inefficient operation due to worst-case scenario designs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a packet-based communication interface with regulator circuitry that controls bandwidth based on environmental conditions, using sensors to sense temperature and power consumption, and adjusting bandwidth through delay insertion to manage power and temperature thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the IC device is designed for worst-case workload scenario to ensure environmental constraints are not exceeded, then reliability is improved, but resource utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic workload throttling that adjusts the IC device's operational capacity in real-time based on monitored environmental conditions (temperature and power consumption). Instead of static worst-case design, the system continuously adapts bandwidth allocation and workload distribution, allowing the device to operate at optimal capacity levels while maintaining environmental constraint compliance through active regulation rather than conservative fixed design
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms by monitoring environmental conditions (temperature sensors and power consumption measurements) and using this information to dynamically adjust workload throttling decisions. The regulator receives feedback about current environmental state and modifies bandwidth allocation accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains reliability while maximizing resource utilization based on actual operating conditions
2Productivity
If bandwidth is increased to improve productivity, then resource utilization is improved, but power consumption and temperature increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic bandwidth regulation where the available bandwidth is adjusted in real-time based on monitored power consumption and temperature levels. The system continuously adapts bandwidth allocation to match current environmental conditions, allowing higher bandwidth when conditions permit and reducing bandwidth when environmental constraints are approached, thereby optimizing the productivity-energy trade-off dynamically rather than using fixed conservative limits
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (bandwidth, workload intensity) based on environmental feedback. When temperature or power consumption exceeds thresholds, the regulator modifies bandwidth parameters to reduce power consumption and cooling requirements. This parameter adaptation allows the system to operate at optimal points on the productivity-power consumption curve under varying environmental conditions
3Productivity
If bandwidth is increased to improve productivity, then resource utilization is improved, but temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth adjustment that responds to real-time temperature monitoring. When temperature approaches maximum operational thresholds, the system automatically reduces bandwidth allocation to decrease heat generation. This dynamic response allows the device to maintain high productivity during normal operation while preventing thermal runaway through adaptive bandwidth throttling based on actual thermal conditions rather than static conservative limits
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensor feedback to regulate bandwidth. The regulator continuously monitors temperature conditions and uses this feedback to adjust bandwidth allocation, creating a closed-loop control that maintains temperature within safe operating ranges while maximizing productivity. This feedback mechanism enables the system to operate at higher bandwidth levels when cooling is adequate and reduces bandwidth when thermal management becomes constrained
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems to manage an environmental condition, such as power consumption and/or temperature, of an integrated circuit (IC) device by controlling a bandwidth of a packet-based communication interface of the IC device (e.g., a PCIe interface). Bandwidth may be controlled by controlling delay between packets or controlling delay of a handshake signal. Delay may be increased when the environmental condition reaches a first threshold. Delay may be reduced when the environmental condition falls to a second threshold. Bandwidth may be regulated with proportional-integral control provided by a firmware controller and/or hardware. Bandwidth may be separately controlled for upstream and downstream paths based on bandwidth utilization of the respective paths. Bandwidth control may utilize codes stored in selectable registers. The IC device may include a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and may be configured as an accelerator card.