Polarity Data Transfer Function for Volatile Memory Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Volatile memory devices like DDR SDRAM exhibit asymmetric power consumption based on data values, with different power usage when writing, reading, refreshing, and pre-charging logic ones versus logic zeros, posing a challenge in managing power efficiency in memory systems.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a polarity-based data transfer function in memory controllers that converts data units composed entirely of logic zeros to predetermined numbers with a high number of logic ones for writing, and applies an inverse function during read operations to restore the original data format, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If data units composed entirely of logic zeros are written directly to memory, then data integrity is maintained, but power consumption increases due to asymmetric power requirements for writing logic zeros versus logic ones
Solution Approach 1:
The memory controller performs preliminary detection of all-zero data units before writing to memory, and applies a transfer function to convert them to a predetermined number with logic ones. This preliminary transformation avoids the high power consumption of writing logic zeros while ensuring data integrity through subsequent inverse transformation during read operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation of data by applying a transfer function that converts all-zero data units to a predetermined number containing logic ones. This parameter transformation exploits the asymmetric power consumption characteristics of memory operations, writing logic ones instead of logic zeros to reduce power consumption while maintaining data integrity through inverse transformation during reads.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a polarity based transfer function is applied to convert logic zeros to logic ones, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional controller logic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the transfer function selectively only to data units that are composed entirely of logic zeros, rather than transforming all data. This local application approach reduces power consumption for the specific case of all-zero writes while minimizing the impact on controller complexity, as the detection and transformation logic is activated only when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The memory controller includes integrated logic that automatically detects all-zero data units and applies the transfer function without external intervention. The controller self-manages the power optimization by incorporating the detection and transformation capabilities within its own architecture, reducing the need for additional external components or complex system-level coordination.
3Use of energy by moving object
If all data units are transformed to predetermined numbers, then power consumption is maximally reduced, but productivity decreases due to additional processing overhead during write and read operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the transfer function partially, only to data units that are composed entirely of logic zeros, rather than transforming all data units. This partial action approach achieves power consumption reduction for the specific high-power scenario while minimizing the processing overhead and productivity impact, as most data units may not require transformation.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, systems, and methods to implement polarity based data transfer function for volatile memory power reduction are described. The transfer function take into account certain data values, all zeroes in particular, that are common and transforms them to predetermined values that consume less power and are less common. Similarly, these predetermined values are transformed to the common values.