RAM Buffer Power Saving via Command Accumulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-directional data transfer circuits face significant power consumption due to leakage power in RAM buffers, and frequent transitions between power saving modes lead to increased power consumption and delays, often resulting in the non-realization of power savings.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where commands for data transfer are tracked and accumulated before generating read requests, and RAM buffers are maintained in power saving modes until the data threshold is surpassed, minimizing unnecessary transitions between active and power saving modes, thereby optimizing power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If RAM buffers frequently transition between power saving modes and active modes, then power consumption may be reduced during idle periods, but the frequent transitions themselves lead to increased power consumption and delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system accumulates data transfer commands and evaluates them in advance before activating the RAM buffer. By using an accumulator to track the total amount of data in accumulated commands and comparing it against a threshold, the system determines whether activation is necessary before it occurs. This preliminary evaluation prevents unnecessary frequent transitions into and out of power saving modes, thereby reducing both leakage power and transition delays.
2Speed
If RAM buffers are kept in active mode to ensure immediate data availability, then data transfer speed is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of the RAM buffer based on real-time evaluation of accumulated data transfer commands. The buffer transitions between power saving mode and active mode according to whether the accumulated data threshold is met. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize the balance between power consumption and data transfer speed, keeping the buffer active only when necessary to meet performance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system accumulates multiple data transfer commands before activating the RAM buffer, rather than activating immediately for each individual command. By waiting until the accumulated data amount exceeds a threshold, the system performs a partial activation (only when needed) rather than continuous activation, thereby reducing power consumption while still meeting data transfer requirements.
3Loss of energy
If RAM buffers transition to power saving modes, then power consumption decreases, but data transfer delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary accumulation and evaluation of data transfer commands before activating the RAM buffer. By tracking the total data amount in accumulated commands and comparing against a threshold in advance, the system ensures that the buffer is activated only when sufficient data is pending, thereby minimizing unnecessary activations and maintaining higher productivity while still achieving power savings during genuine idle periods.
Data Source
AI summary
A power-saving method and circuit in a data processing device comprising a data buffer. Data transfer commands associated with a data source and a data destination are received at the data processing device. The data transfer commands are accumulated until an amount of data associated with the read commands is greater than a predefined threshold. When the amount of data is less than the predefined threshold and the data buffer is empty, the data buffer is signaled to enter or to maintain a power saving mode. When the amount of data is at least the predefined threshold, the data buffer is signaled to exit the power saving mode following a predetermined delay. Processing of the commands and data in respective pipelines is monitored to time exiting of the buffer from the power saving mode for arrival of the data. Power saving mode use and thus power saving are optimized.