Power Arbitration for Electronic Components Using Priority Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electronic systems with shared power sources, concurrent power requests from multiple components can lead to bus conflicts, resulting in latency and decreased performance due to the need for components to cancel and reissue power requests.
Innovation Solution
Assigning arbitration identifiers to each electronic component based on priority, allowing components with higher priorities to reserve power while lower-priority components refrain from power-consuming operations, and enabling components to continue attempting arbitration until they win, thus managing peak power consumption and alleviating request conflicts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple electronic components concurrently request power from a shared power source, then power allocation can be managed, but bus conflicts occur resulting in latency and decreased performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having electronic components assert their arbitration identifiers in advance before power is actually allocated. Components continuously monitor the arbitration bus and assert their identifiers during arbitration phases, allowing the system to determine priority relationships beforehand. This prevents conflicts during actual power allocation, eliminating the need for components to cancel and reissue requests, thereby reducing latency while managing peak power consumption.
2Power
If components cancel and reissue power requests due to bus conflicts, then peak power consumption is avoided, but system performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through continuous monitoring of the arbitration bus by all electronic components. Each component monitors the arbitration identifiers asserted by others and adjusts its behavior accordingly. When a higher-priority component asserts its identifier, lower-priority components receive feedback and suppress their own requests. This feedback mechanism eliminates bus conflicts without requiring request cancellation, maintaining both peak power consumption control and system performance.
3Power
If arbitration identifiers are assigned to manage power requests, then power allocation conflicts are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling each electronic component to autonomously manage its own power requests using its assigned arbitration identifier. Components independently monitor the arbitration bus, assert their identifiers when ready for power allocation, and suppress requests when higher-priority components are active. This self-service approach eliminates the need for a centralized arbitration controller, reducing device complexity while effectively managing power allocation conflicts through distributed intelligence.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for power arbitration for systems of electronic components are described. A system may include a power source, a signaling conductor coupled with a voltage source, and a set of electronic components. One or more of the electronic components may include respective circuitry coupled with the power source and a respective switching component (e.g., a transistor) coupled with the signaling conductor. In some implementations, an electronic component of the set may be configured to determine an operation of its respective circuitry that is associated with a power consumption from the power source. Based on such a determination, the electronic component may switch its respective switching component in accordance with an identifier associated with the electronic component, and determine whether to perform the operation based on monitoring a signal level of the signaling conductor during the switching.