SoC Virtual Machine Control for Low-Power Processor Clusters

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Solution Overview

Problem

System on chip (SoC) devices consume excessive power due to the operation of multiple processors, especially when in idle or sleep modes, leading to inefficiencies in power management.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a control device with a system on chip (SoC) that utilizes a plurality of processor clusters and a controller to generate distinct virtual machines, allowing for selective suspension and resumption of operations based on mode changes, including normal, sleep, and idle discontinuous reception (DRX) modes, using a hypervisor to manage power and data transfer between these modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple processors operate simultaneously to handle different operations, then system functionality and performance are improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides processors into multiple clusters (first processor cluster and second processor cluster) that can be independently controlled. Each cluster can be suspended or activated based on operational requirements, allowing the system to maintain functionality while reducing power consumption by keeping only necessary clusters active.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of processor clusters based on real-time requirements. The controller can suspend or activate specific clusters depending on whether the system is in normal mode, sleep mode, or idle DRX mode, enabling adaptive power management that balances performance and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If processors are powered down to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but system response time and operational readiness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsystem response time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller maintains system state information and configuration data in memory even when processor clusters are suspended. This preliminary preservation of operational context allows for rapid resume of operations without requiring full system initialization, thereby reducing response time when transitioning from sleep or idle DRX modes back to normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Different processor clusters have different operational characteristics and power consumption profiles. The system applies selective suspension to specific clusters based on their current operational state and importance, rather than uniformly suspending all processors. This allows critical functions to maintain readiness while non-critical functions are suspended for power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Use of energy by moving object

If virtual machines are suspended and data is stored in memory, then power consumption is reduced, but data integrity and system reliability must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller acts as an intermediary that manages the suspension and resumption of virtual machines. It maintains virtual machine state information in memory and coordinates the suspension/activation process, ensuring that data integrity is preserved during transitions. The controller verifies and manages the state of virtual machines to maintain system reliability during power-saving operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12572380B2Control device, system on chip, and electronic device

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A control device comprises a plurality of processor clusters, and a controller including memory device, wherein the controller is configured to generate a first virtual machine and a second virtual machine different from the first virtual machine, wherein a first operation is performed by using the first virtual machine and a second operation different from the first operation is performed by using the second virtual machine on the plurality of processor clusters, wherein the second operation is stopped by a suspend operation for the second virtual machine and data for the second virtual machine is stored in the memory device, wherein the first operation is stopped by a suspend operation for the first virtual machine and data for the first virtual machine is stored in the memory device, wherein the second operation is performed by a resume operation for the second virtual machine while the first operation is being stopped.