Processor Dynamic Capacitance Control for Transient Current Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern processors face challenges in managing power delivery capabilities across various form factor devices, leading to inefficiencies in performance and cost due to limited flexibility in managing transient current spikes and capacitance, which affects their ability to operate at higher frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A processor configured to maintain dynamic capacitance characterization information over different time intervals, allowing it to determine an appropriate value for dynamic capacitance and peak frequency based on specified peak current delivery capabilities, enabling operation within the power delivery capabilities of a particular system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the processor exits from idle state to active high performance state quickly by increasing voltage, then performance is improved, but the burden on power delivery components increases and component capability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The processor performs preliminary actions by pre-charging internal capacitance before voltage increase and pre-warming execution pipelines before full performance operation. This prepares the system in advance so that when transitioning from idle to active state, the processor can achieve high performance faster without overburdening power delivery components, as the capacitance is already charged and ready to deliver transient current.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor implements dynamic state transitions with multiple intermediate performance levels between idle and full performance. Instead of a single abrupt transition, the processor dynamically adjusts voltage and frequency through staged increments, allowing smooth adaptation that reduces power delivery stress while maintaining acceptable performance improvement speed.
2Reliability
If more capacitors are added to the output of voltage regulator to increase transient response capability, then transient response capability is improved, but inrush current increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the capacitance function from external power delivery components and relocates it to internal on-die capacitance. By taking out the transient response capability requirement from the external capacitor bank and implementing it internally within the processor, the system achieves the same transient response performance without requiring large external capacitors, thereby reducing inrush current and associated costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor introduces internal capacitance as an intermediary between the voltage regulator and the compute components. This internal capacitance acts as a local energy buffer that mediates transient power demands, reducing the need for large external capacitors and their associated inrush current problems while maintaining reliable transient response capability.
3Productivity
If the processor operates at higher frequencies to provide same performance in small form factor devices, then performance is improved, but power delivery component size and capability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The processor implements dynamic frequency scaling with multiple operational states optimized for different performance requirements. By dynamically adjusting operating frequency based on actual workload demands and power availability, the processor achieves high productivity when needed while avoiding sustained operation at maximum frequencies that would require oversized power delivery components.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor changes operational parameters including voltage, frequency, and capacitance configuration to optimize performance for different form factor constraints. By adjusting these parameters dynamically and selecting appropriate operating points, the processor delivers required productivity in small form factor devices without imposing excessive capability requirements on power delivery components.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a processor includes: at least one core to execute instructions; a power controller to control power consumption of the processor; and a storage to store a plurality of entries to associate a dynamic capacitance with a time duration for which a current spike is to be exposed to a power delivery component. Other embodiments are described and claimed.