Onboard Power Accumulator for Platform Power Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to accurately measure platform power consumption during deep low power states (S0iX) without external instruments, making it challenging to optimize battery life and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using an onboard power accumulator device, power management controller (PMC), and corresponding software within a system-on-chip (SoC) to measure system power during deep sleep states, allowing for accurate measurement of overall and individual component power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external power measurement instruments are used to measure platform power during deep low power states, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own internal power accumulator device to measure its power consumption during deep sleep states, eliminating the need for external measurement instruments. The power accumulator is integrated within the SoC and can autonomously capture power data without external intervention, resolving the contradiction by making the system self-measuring.
Solution Approach 2:
The power accumulator acts as an intermediary component between the power management controller and the host software, enabling power measurement during deep sleep states without requiring external instruments. It captures and stores power data that can be later retrieved by the host software through standard interfaces.
2Measurement precision
If the system remains in active state to enable software measurement, then measurement capability is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power accumulator device is pre-configured and activated before the system enters deep sleep state. It autonomously captures power consumption data during the low power state without requiring the processor or software to remain active, thus maintaining measurement capability while minimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The power accumulator autonomously performs power measurement during deep sleep states without requiring the processor or operating system to remain active. It self-manages the measurement process, stores data locally, and makes it available for later retrieval, eliminating the need to maintain system activity for measurement purposes.
3Loss of energy
If power measurement is implemented during deep sleep states, then energy efficiency optimization is improved, but measurement reliability becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The power accumulator uses a simple, dedicated hardware structure with analog-to-digital converters and counters that are always-on but low-power. This simple design reduces points of failure and ensures reliable operation during deep sleep states, while the measured data can be discarded and re-measured if needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The power accumulator serves as a reliable intermediary that continuously monitors power consumption even during deep sleep states. It captures power data at the source (power supply lines) and stores it in a manner that ensures data integrity, allowing reliable energy efficiency measurements without compromising system reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A Power Management Controller (PMC) which manages power states of a platform, informs a power accumulator device to start measuring the platform power during entry into the low power state (e.g., S0iX). The power accumulator device starts measuring the power until a stop message comes from the PMC. The PMC on detection of any wake event initiates a stop message to the power accumulator device. Once an operating system (OS) context is restored, software can read the measured data from the power accumulator device. The measured data is accessible to a host software using standard software application programming interface (API) and can be used to influence the power policies of the system.