PE Architecture State Save-Restore Circuits for Power State Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional software-based and retention flop-based solutions for saving and restoring processing element (PE) architecture state information result in high latency, increased power consumption, and circuit area due to slow software access and the need for additional hardware resources.
Innovation Solution
A hardware-based approach for saving and restoring PE architecture state information using sequencing elements and dedicated routing interfaces to manage state transitions, allowing parallel processing and reducing the need for software intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If software-based solutions are used for saving and restoring PE architecture state information, then flexibility and ease of implementation are improved, but latency and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dedicated hardware circuits as intermediaries between the PE architecture state and memory storage. These hardware circuits include state detection logic, save/restore control units, and dedicated data paths that directly interface with PE registers and memory, eliminating the need for software intervention and significantly reducing latency while maintaining ease of implementation through standardized hardware modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the software-based mechanism (which requires sequential instruction execution and CPU intervention) with a hardware-based mechanism using dedicated circuits, control signals, and direct memory access. This substitution transforms the saving and restoring process from a software-controlled sequence into a hardware-driven parallel operation, dramatically reducing latency and power consumption.
2Reliability
If retention flop-based solutions are used for saving PE architecture state information, then state preservation during power transitions is improved, but circuit area and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the state preservation function from the PE architecture itself and implements it separately using dedicated hardware circuits and memory structures. Instead of relying on retention flops within the PE, the solution uses external memory elements and control circuits that can be optimized independently, reducing the circuit area burden on the PE while maintaining reliable state preservation during power transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs universal save/restore circuits that can serve multiple PEs and handle various types of architecture state information. These multi-functional circuits reduce overall circuit area by sharing resources across different PEs and operations, rather than requiring dedicated retention flops for each PE and each state parameter.
3Reliability
If retention flop-based solutions are used for saving PE architecture state information, then state preservation during power transitions is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic control signaling where save and restore operations are triggered only when needed (during power state transitions) rather than continuously maintaining retention flops in active states. The control circuits use periodic enable signals to activate memory elements only during critical transitions, significantly reducing power consumption while ensuring state preservation when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the state storage system by using memory elements that can be dynamically powered or clocked based on PE activity states. Instead of keeping retention flops continuously powered, the solution adjusts power and clock parameters of memory elements and control circuits based on whether save/restore operations are needed, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliability during transitions.
4Reliability
If conventional save and restore methods are used, then state information can be preserved, but processing time and battery life are negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary detection and triggering mechanisms that identify when power state transitions are about to occur and automatically initiate save operations before the transition happens. This preliminary action ensures state information is preserved without requiring extended save/restore processing times, as the operations are triggered optimally at the right moment, minimizing disruption to processing and reducing overall power consumption to extend battery life.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for hardware-based saving and restoring of architecture state information for processing elements (PEs). According to certain aspects, one or more circuit elements trigger saving of architecture state information of at least one processing element (PE) to multiple memories prior to the at least one PE transitioning from a first state to a second state, wherein the architecture state information comprises information associated with different hierarchical levels and trigger restoration of the architecture state information from the multiple memories to the at least one PE prior to the at least one PE transitioning from the second state to the first state.