Processor Power Management During Wait States
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Solution Overview
Problem
As integrated circuits (ICs) with increasing density and power consumption face challenges in minimizing power consumption and heat dissipation, especially when circuits are in a wait state, existing methods like clock gating and cycle steering are insufficient.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves a processor receiving instructions to enter a wait state, identifying associated parameters, initiating a low-power mode, and providing user notifications, along with a system and computer program product that execute these instructions to optimize power consumption by managing power states and providing user interface updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If clock gating and cycle steering are used to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced during operation, but power consumption and heat dissipation increase when circuits are in wait state due to increasing IC density
Solution Approach 1:
The processor proactively enters a low-power mode before actually entering the wait state by detecting wait state instructions in the instruction stream. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare for reduced power consumption by shutting down clock signals and resetting logic blocks in advance, rather than merely reacting when the wait state is already active
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational state by transitioning between full-power mode and low-power mode based on the detected instruction stream. The processor monitors for wait state instructions and adaptively changes clock signal generation and logic block activation states, making the power consumption flexible rather than static
2Use of energy by stationary object
If the processor enters low-power mode during wait state, then power consumption and heat generation are reduced, but system complexity increases due to parameter identification and state management
Solution Approach 1:
The processor performs self-service by autonomously monitoring its own instruction stream for wait state instructions and automatically making decisions about entering low-power mode. The system identifies parameters associated with wait state instructions and independently manages the transition to and from low-power mode without requiring external control logic, thereby reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The processor combines multiple functions into a single unified mechanism: instruction stream analysis, parameter identification, low-power mode initiation, and state management are all performed by the same processor core. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate control circuits and reduces system complexity despite the added capabilities
3Reliability
If the processor continuously monitors instruction stream to detect wait state instructions, then accurate power management is achieved, but processing speed decreases due to additional monitoring overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The power management monitoring function is extracted as a separate analytical task from the main execution pipeline. The processor identifies parameters associated with wait state instructions by analyzing the instruction stream without requiring full execution of every instruction, thereby reducing the overhead impact on processing speed while maintaining accurate power management
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are directed to a method of optimizing power consumption in an electrical device. The method includes receiving, by a processor, instructions to enter a wait state, and identifying, by the processor, a parameter associated with the instructions to enter a wait state. The method continues with initiating, by the processor, instructions to enter a low-power mode based on the parameter, initiating, by the processor, instructions to exit a low-power mode based on the parameter, and providing, via a user interface, a user with notice of a current state of the processor. The parameter includes runtime information, instructional information, and scheduled operations.