Processor Frequency Control via Power and Utilization Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
As integrated circuits become more compact and power consumption increases, managing power consumption while maintaining performance is critical, especially in devices like mobile phones and laptops, where frequency scaling reduces both power usage and performance, necessitating an optimal operating frequency balance.
Innovation Solution
A method that compares measured and target power consumption and utilization ratios to determine optimal operating frequencies, using a feedback control loop to adjust the processor's frequency, balancing power management and performance through proportional-integral controllers and frequency selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the operating frequency of a processor is decreased to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the number of instructions executed per time period decreases, reducing perceived performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic frequency scaling by continuously monitoring power consumption and utilization ratio, then adjusting the operating frequency in real-time based on current workload demands. This allows the system to transition between frequency states adaptively, ensuring optimal performance when needed while minimizing power consumption during low-utilization periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a feedback control mechanism that monitors both power consumption and utilization ratio, uses these measurements to determine appropriate frequency adjustments, and applies those adjustments while continuing to monitor the results. This closed-loop approach ensures that frequency decisions are based on actual system state and performance requirements
2Productivity
If the operating frequency of a processor is increased to improve performance, then the number of instructions executed per time period increases, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts frequency upward when utilization ratio indicates high workload demands, allowing the processor to deliver peak performance when required. This dynamic behavior enables the system to respond to changing workload conditions rather than operating at a fixed frequency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating frequency parameter based on measured power consumption and utilization ratio, selecting from multiple available frequency states. This parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize the balance between performance and power consumption by choosing the appropriate frequency level for current conditions
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are provided for managing the power consumption and performance of a processing device. Power consumption and utilization ratios for a processing device may be continuously measured. The measured power consumption and utilization ratios may be compared to target power consumption and utilization ratios to adjust an operating frequency of the processing device. In one implementation a power controller may take the target and measured power consumption as inputs to generate a power output and a utilization controller may take the target and measured utilization ratios as inputs to generate a utilization output. The lower of the power output and the utilization output may be selected and used to adjust the operating frequency of the processing device. The power and utilization controllers may implement a proportional-integral control scheme.