Processor Clock Frequency Scaling via IPC Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Processor-based equipment faces increasing power consumption due to higher clock frequencies and voltages, leading to inefficiencies in energy conservation, particularly in battery-operated devices, where software-based techniques for frequency scaling are ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A method involving an advanced peripheral bus driver retrieving values from core processor registers, determining the expected instructions per cycle (IPC), comparing this to a threshold IPC, and scaling the clock signal if the condition is not met, using a clock generator to adjust the clock frequency and update register values accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If higher clock frequencies and voltages are used to increase processing capability, then processor performance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic clock frequency scaling by monitoring instruction per cycle (IPC) metrics and adjusting the processor clock frequency in real-time. The system transitions from static high-frequency operation to dynamic frequency adjustment, scaling the clock frequency up or down based on actual workload demands and IPC performance, thereby reducing power consumption during low-utilization periods while maintaining high performance when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the processor by adjusting clock frequency and voltage levels based on workload conditions. The system monitors performance metrics and modifies the clock frequency parameter dynamically, selecting from multiple frequency/voltage combinations to optimize the balance between processing capability and power consumption for different operational scenarios.
2Use of energy by moving object
If software-based techniques are used for frequency scaling, then power consumption can be reduced, but control effectiveness is limited due to inefficient sampling windows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based frequency control mechanisms with a hardware-implemented performance monitoring and control system. The hardware monitor directly observes processor performance metrics and controls clock frequency adjustment, eliminating the delays and inefficiencies of software sampling windows and providing more responsive and effective power management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where processor performance metrics (IPC) are continuously monitored and fed back to the clock frequency control logic. This closed-loop system automatically adjusts the clock frequency based on real-time performance feedback, optimizing the balance between performance and power consumption without requiring software intervention.
3Use of energy by moving object
If dynamic clock frequency scaling is implemented, then power efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated performance monitor unit as an intermediary component that sits between the processor core and the clock frequency control logic. This specialized hardware module handles the complex tasks of performance metric collection, analysis, and translation into frequency scaling decisions, isolating the complexity from the main processor and power management logic.
Data Source
AI summary
In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a method for scaling a core processor clock to reduce power consumption. The method includes retrieving, by an advanced peripheral bus (APB) driver, a first one or more values from one or more registers of a core processor, the first one or more values corresponding to a set of instructions of the core processor. The method may also include determining, by an IPC calculator, a first expected instruction per cycle (IPC) for executing the set of instructions based on the first one or more values. The method may also include comparing, by the IPC calculator, a threshold IPC to the first expected IPC to determine whether an equality condition is met, wherein the threshold IPC is stored in a first register of the IPC calculator.