Proxy Interrupt Control Circuit Power Management

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing programmable integrated circuits (ICs) face challenges in power management, as they consume power even when processors are suspended, due to the need for interrupt controllers to wake up processors upon interrupts, leading to inefficient power usage.

Innovation Solution

A power management system that includes a processing sub-system with an interrupt control circuit and a proxy interrupt control circuit, which generates power-down and power-up signals to enable or disable power to the processing sub-system, allowing for the entire sub-system to be powered down when idle, reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the interrupt control circuit remains powered on to wake up processors upon interrupts, then the system can respond to peripheral interrupts, but the processing sub-system consumes power even when processors are suspended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterrupt response capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The interrupt control circuit is extracted from the processing sub-system and placed in a separate power domain. This allows the processing sub-system to be completely powered down while the interrupt control circuit remains powered on independently, enabling interrupt response without keeping the entire sub-system powered.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into two independent power domains: one for the processing sub-system and another for the interrupt control circuit. This segmentation allows independent power management, where the interrupt control circuit can operate in a low-power state while still being able to wake up the processing sub-system when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by moving object

If the entire processing sub-system is powered down to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but the interrupt control circuit cannot wake up the processors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidinterrupt handling functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The interrupt control circuit is extracted from the processing sub-system and placed in a separate power domain. This allows the processing sub-system to be completely powered down while the interrupt control circuit remains powered on independently, enabling interrupt response without keeping the entire sub-system powered.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The interrupt control circuit acts as an intermediary between the external interrupt sources and the powered-down processing sub-system. It can detect interrupts, generate wake-up signals, and restore power to the processing sub-system when needed, functioning as a mediator that enables communication between the low-power and active states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If the interrupt control circuit is isolated from the processing sub-system during power-down, then power management is improved, but the complexity of power domain management increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower management efficiencyVSAvoidpower domain architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into two independent power domains: one for the processing sub-system and another for the interrupt control circuit. This segmentation allows independent power management, where the interrupt control circuit can operate in a low-power state while still being able to wake up the processing sub-system when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The interrupt control circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect interrupts from peripheral devices, generate wake-up signals to the processing sub-system, and manage power state transitions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated circuits for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3183662B1Sub-system power management control

Publication Date: 2023.10.25 XILINX INC

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AI summary

An apparatus is disclosed that includes a processing sub-system (110/240) having a plurality of processor circuits and an interrupt control circuit. The interrupt control circuit (114/242) is configured to, in response to a peripheral interrupt, initiate performance of a task indicated by the peripheral interrupt by at least one of the plurality of processor circuits. The processing sub-system (110/240) is configured to generate a power-down control signal in response to suspension of the plurality of processor circuits. A power management circuit disables power to the processing sub-system (110/240), including the interrupt control circuit, in response to the power-down control signal. The power management circuit enables power to the processing sub-system (1 10/240) in response to a power-up control signal. The apparatus also includes a proxy interrupt control circuit (104/220) configured to generate the power-up control signal in response to receiving a peripheral interrupt and power to the processing sub-system (110/240) being disabled.