Shared Clock Generation Circuit for Multi-Island Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power and clock management systems for integrated circuits are complex and inflexible, requiring substantial changes when adding new islands and leading to high chip area occupation and power consumption due to dedicated voltage regulators and clock generators for each island.
Innovation Solution
A computing system with a clock generation circuit that selects different clock frequencies based on operating mode changes, shared among multiple islands, using a ring oscillator, frequency divider, and multiplexer to generate and distribute clock signals efficiently, reducing the need for individual clock generators and decentralizing power and clock management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dedicated voltage regulator and clock generator are provided for each island, then the supply voltage and clock signal of each island can be controlled independently, but the chip area occupied by these components increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clock generation function into a shared resource that serves multiple islands simultaneously. Instead of having separate clock generators for each island, a single clock generation circuit distributes clock signals to multiple islands, reducing the total chip area while maintaining independent controllability through shared control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The clock generation circuit is designed as a universal resource that can serve multiple islands with different clock frequency requirements. The circuit implements multi-functionality by dynamically adjusting clock frequencies for different islands based on their operating modes, eliminating the need for dedicated clock generators for each island.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a dedicated voltage regulator and clock generator are provided for each island, then the supply voltage and clock signal of each island can be controlled independently, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges power management functions into shared resources. Instead of having separate voltage regulators for each island, a shared power management circuit serves multiple islands, reducing the total power consumption associated with regulator operation while maintaining independent voltage control capability through shared control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management circuit is designed as a universal resource that can independently control supply voltage for multiple islands. This multi-functional approach allows a single circuit to replace multiple dedicated regulators, reducing overall power consumption while preserving the ability to independently adjust voltage for each island based on its operating mode.
3Reliability
If a centralized activity control unit is used for power and clock management, then coordination between islands is achieved, but the complexity of the system increases and adaptability to new islands decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power and clock management functions into distributed island control circuits that operate autonomously. Each island has its own control circuit that can independently manage its power and clock requirements, reducing the complexity of centralized coordination while maintaining system-wide reliability through decentralized decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
Each island is equipped with self-service capabilities through dedicated control circuits that can autonomously adjust their power and clock settings based on operating mode requirements. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex centralized control while ensuring reliable coordination through standardized communication protocols between islands and shared resources.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a computing system comprising: an island (102) comprising a group of circuits capable of operating in one of a plurality of operating modes, the island being coupled to an island control circuit (122); and a clock generation circuit (902) supplying a further clock signal to the island control circuit (122) for controlling a change of mode of the island, the clock generation circuit (902) being configured to select one of a plurality of clock frequencies for the further clock signal, the selection being based on the change of operating mode to be applied.