Power Management Circuit with Activity Weighting and Throttle Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semiconductor chip designers face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption while maximizing performance, as existing power management systems struggle to balance instantaneous and average power limits, leading to inefficient use of power resources.
Innovation Solution
A power management circuit that measures both instantaneous and average power consumption, using activity detection and scheduling to throttle power usage based on credit pool management, with different weights assigned to various activities, and threshold detection to prevent power limit violations, allowing for efficient use of power resources by permitting brief high-power bursts within sustainable limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If power management systems enforce strict instantaneous and average power limits, then power consumption is controlled, but performance is reduced due to excessive throttling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management by adjusting power limits adaptively based on thermal conditions. The system transitions between different power limit states (initial power limit, reduced power limit, and increased power limit) depending on real-time temperature measurements, allowing performance to scale with thermal headroom rather than being constrained by static limits
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback control by continuously monitoring temperature and adjusting power limits accordingly. Temperature sensors provide feedback to the power management circuit, which then modifies instantaneous and average power limits to maintain thermal safety while maximizing performance within available thermal budget
2Reliability
If power limits are reduced to prevent thermal violations, then reliability is improved, but power resource utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes power limit parameters dynamically based on thermal state. Instead of using fixed conservative power limits, the system adjusts instantaneous power limit (P_inst) and average power limit (P_avg) as functions of measured temperature, allowing higher power utilization when thermal conditions permit while maintaining reliability through temperature-based constraints
3Measurement precision
If multiple power thresholds are implemented for different activity types, then power management precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments power management into distinct components: instantaneous power limit control, average power limit control, and temperature-based adaptive control. Each segment handles a specific aspect of power management, allowing precise control through modular components rather than a monolithic complex system
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is described. The method includes receiving an indication of an activity of load circuitry of a power supply. The method includes, in response to the indication, generating a first signal that describes the activity and a second signal that describes whether the event is initiating or completing. The method includes determining a weight amount from the first signal and adjusting a credit count by the weight amount up or down based on the second signal. The method includes comparing the credit count against a first threshold. The method includes calculating an average credit count that accounts for the credit count and previous credit counts and comparing the average credit count against a second threshold. The method includes adjusting an activity level of the load circuitry if either threshold is crossed.