Volatile Storage Voltage Management for Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices face challenges in prolonging their operating period due to limited energy supply, as they consume significant power during sleep states, particularly in volatile memory, where data retention is crucial but voltage levels can affect data integrity.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented where a power management unit supplies a first voltage level during active states and a lower second voltage level during reduced power states, with a self-test determining the optimal retention voltage to minimize data errors, allowing for dynamic adjustment to find a minimum voltage that maintains data integrity without excessive power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If a lower voltage level is supplied to the volatile storage device during reduced power states, then power consumption is reduced, but data retention reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the voltage level supplied to the volatile storage device based on the operational state of the wireless device. During active states, a first voltage level is supplied for optimal performance, while during reduced power states, a second lower voltage level is supplied to reduce power consumption. The system determines appropriate voltage levels and transition timing to balance power savings with data retention requirements, effectively changing the voltage parameter to resolve the contradiction between power consumption and reliability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the processor enters a reduced power state frequently, then average power consumption decreases, but data integrity in volatile storage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the voltage supply to the volatile storage device dynamic rather than static. The system transitions between different voltage levels based on the processor's operational state - switching from a higher voltage during active states to a lower voltage during reduced power states. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize power consumption while maintaining data integrity by ensuring appropriate voltage levels are applied at appropriate times, preventing data corruption that would occur with frequent or prolonged low-voltage states.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms to monitor the operational state of the processor and the status of the volatile storage device, using this information to determine when to transition between voltage levels. By continuously assessing system state and adjusting voltage supply accordingly, the feedback mechanism ensures that data integrity is maintained while achieving power consumption optimization during reduced power states.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for power management of a wireless device is described. The method comprises supplying a first voltage level to a volatile storage device during a period when the processor is in an operating state; supplying a second voltage level, lower that the first voltage level, to the storage device for retaining data during a period when the processor is in a reduced power state, and determining a value of the second voltage level. The second voltage level is determined by performing a self-test of the storage device to find a minimum second voltage level that gives a number of data errors below a predetermined threshold.