VLIW Processor Power Management via Instruction Transcoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Very long instruction word (VLIW) processors face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption, particularly in portable devices where hardware complexity and power resource scarcity are concerns, as existing methods do not effectively reduce power usage without impacting computation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A power management method and apparatus for VLIW processors that involves an instruction transcoder and a power reduction controller to rearrange instructions, placing No Operation (NOP) instructions in positions that allow for power reduction in execution units, thereby selectively controlling power consumption based on the transcoded instruction package.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If power reduction control is applied to execution units in VLIW processor, then power consumption is reduced, but computation efficiency may be impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The instruction transcoder performs preliminary action by transcoding instructions in advance to identify and separate NOP instructions from valid instructions. This preprocessing allows the power reduction controller to selectively activate or deactivate execution units based on the transcoded instruction package, ensuring that only necessary execution units consume power while maintaining computation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selectively controlling power to specific execution units rather than uniformly reducing power across all units. The power reduction controller dynamically adjusts the operational state of individual execution units based on the actual instruction requirements, ensuring that execution units handling valid instructions maintain full performance while those handling NOP instructions are deactivated for power savings.
2Adaptability or versatility
If instruction transcoding is implemented to separate valid instructions and NOP instructions, then power management capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instruction transcoder acts as an intermediary component between the instruction fetch unit and the execution units. It translates incoming instruction packages into a format that clearly distinguishes valid instructions from NOP instructions, enabling the power reduction controller to make informed decisions. This intermediary layer provides the necessary information flow control without requiring complex modifications to the core execution architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the instruction package into distinct components: valid instructions and NOP instructions. The instruction transcoder separates these two types of instructions through transcoding, allowing independent control of execution units. This segmentation enables fine-grained power management by treating different instruction types differently, improving power management capability while keeping the implementation modular and manageable.
3Manufacturing precision
If NOP instructions are positioned to correspond to specific execution units, then power reduction precision is improved, but instruction rearrangement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instruction transcoder performs preliminary rearrangement of instructions to position NOP instructions in specific positions within the instruction package. By doing this transcoding in advance, the system establishes a predictable mapping between instruction positions and execution units, enabling precise power reduction control without requiring complex real-time rearrangement logic during execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the instruction package structure through transcoding. The transcoder changes the positional parameters of instructions, specifically arranging NOP instructions to correspond to execution units that can be safely deactivated. This parameter transformation enables precise identification of which execution units should be powered down, improving power reduction precision while using systematic rather than ad-hoc rearrangement methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A very long instruction word (VLIW) processor and an apparatus with power management and a method of power management therefor are provided in consistent with the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. The power management method includes the following steps. Valid instruction(s) and no operation (NOP) instruction(s) of an input instruction package are rearranged to output a transcoded instruction package, wherein the transcoded instruction package by the rearrangement has its NOP instruction(s) corresponding to at least one execution unit, which is to be placed in power reduction state, of a VLIW processor. Power reduction control is selectively performed on at least one execution unit corresponding to at least one NOP instruction of the transcoded instruction package according to the transcoded instruction package.