Thermal Throttling Logic for Multi-Core Processor Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-core processors like the Cell Broadband Engine are limited by thermal considerations, leading to coarse power management solutions that impact real-time guarantees, and existing thermal management techniques often compromise application performance.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and data processing system that logs maximal temperatures in an integrated circuit, using digital thermal sensors to throttle units dynamically and report status, ensuring real-time guarantees while minimizing thermal overload risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coarse power management is used to manage thermal limits, then thermal overload is prevented, but real-time guarantees of the application are impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processor into multiple independently controllable units (cores, threads, or blocks). When thermal limits are reached, only the specific overheated units are throttled rather than the entire processor. This selective segmentation maintains real-time guarantees for non-thermal units while preventing thermal overload in affected units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local thermal management by assigning different thermal thresholds and throttling characteristics to different processor units based on their individual temperature conditions. Each unit can be independently monitored and controlled, allowing fine-grained thermal quality adjustment that preserves overall system real-time performance.
2Reliability
If all processor units are throttled in response to thermal limits, then thermal overload is prevented, but processor performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the processor into separable units that can be independently managed. Thermal throttling is applied only to specific segments experiencing overheating, while other segments continue operating at full performance. This selective approach prevents thermal overload in affected areas without unnecessarily reducing overall processor productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different processor units are assigned different thermal management characteristics based on their operational status and temperature conditions. Units exceeding thermal thresholds receive throttling, while units within safe temperature ranges maintain full performance, creating a differentiated quality of service that preserves overall system productivity.
3Reliability
If thermal management techniques are applied to prevent thermal overload, then system reliability is improved, but application real-time guarantees are impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments thermal management into unit-level controls rather than system-wide controls. This allows real-time guarantees to be maintained for non-affected units while ensuring reliability for thermal-affected units through localized throttling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous temperature monitoring and feedback control at the unit level. Temperature sensors provide real-time feedback to the thermal management system, which dynamically adjusts throttling decisions to maintain both reliability and real-time guarantees based on actual thermal conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively manages thermal throttling to maintain real-time application performance by dynamically adjusting processor units based on sensed temperatures, preventing thermal overload and ensuring system reliability.
Implementation Method 1
receive a sensed temperature value from a digital thermal sensor representing a current temperature of a unit associated with the digital thermal sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and processor are provided for implementation of thermal throttling logic. A sensed temperature value is received from a digital thermal sensor representing a current temperature of a unit associated with the digital thermal sensor in the integrated circuit. The sensed temperature is reported as the current temperature in a status register. The unit in the integrated circuit is throttled in response to the current temperature exceeding a first predetermined value.