Processor Power Gating for AC-to-Battery Performance Scaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing size and power demands of GPUs and CPUs in mobile devices pose challenges when switching from AC mains power to battery power, as battery capacity constraints limit power and peak current, leading to reduced performance due to insufficient power budgets.

Innovation Solution

Implement power management circuitry that scales the number of operational functional units in processor or memory circuitry based on the power source, disabling supply voltage and infrastructural circuitry to reduce power consumption and improve performance by reallocating power to fewer active units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the size of discrete GPUs and CPUs is increased to pack more computing power, then computing performance is improved, but power consumption and thermal output increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomputing performanceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The GPU is divided into multiple functional units (EUs) that can be independently powered. The power management circuitry selectively enables or disables individual EUs based on available power budget, allowing the system to segment power consumption across functional units and optimize performance within power constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by moving object

If battery capacity is increased to sustain higher power consumption, then performance on battery power is improved, but safety constraints and device portability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidsafety constraints

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the number of operational functional units based on the available power source (AC mains or battery). When on battery power, the power management circuitry reduces the number of active EUs to match the lower power budget, whereas on AC power, more EUs can be activated. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize performance for each power scenario without requiring increased battery capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If the number of functional units is reduced to lower power consumption, then power budget compliance is improved, but computing performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcomputing performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The power management circuitry changes the operational parameters of functional units by selectively enabling or disabling individual EUs based on the available power budget. This parameter adjustment allows the system to operate within power constraints while maintaining optimal performance for the given power availability, rather than permanently reducing the number of functional units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Power

If static power consumption is reduced by disabling functional units, then available dynamic power is increased, but the number of operational units is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic power availabilityVSAvoidnumber of operational units

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system temporarily discards (disables) certain functional units to reduce static power consumption, thereby recovering more power budget for dynamic operations on the remaining active units. The power management circuitry intelligently selects which EUs to disable based on current workload requirements and power availability, allowing the system to recover power for critical operations while maintaining essential functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS12613565B2Controlling a power consumption of circuitry

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 INTEL CORP

AI summary

An apparatus for managing a power consumption of processor or memory circuitry comprising a plurality of processing or memory functional units may be provided. The processor or memory circuitry is arranged to receive electrical power from an alternating current, AC, power source or a battery. The apparatus comprises processing circuitry to: based on an indication that the processor or memory circuitry is receiving electrical power from the AC power source, selectively cause operational electrical power to be provided to a first number of the functional units of the processor or memory circuitry. The processing circuitry is further to: based on an indication that the circuitry is receiving electrical power from the battery, selectively cause operational electrical power to be provided to a second number of the functional units of the processor or memory circuitry, the second number being less than the first number.