Voltage-Coupled Clock Circuit for Stable Processor Frequency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing operating frequency of processors in mobile terminals leads to higher power consumption, heat dissipation issues, and potential power supply dips, causing instability and crashes, as conventional methods to address these issues increase power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A power supply circuit with a DC-DC buck power supply and a tunable ring clock generator that adjusts the operating voltage and frequency in real-time, ensuring the processor operates within a stable frequency-voltage curve without increasing power consumption, using a clock measurement module and voltage regulator to maintain optimal voltage and frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the processor operates at high frequency to improve performance, then processing speed is improved, but power consumption increases and power supply dips occur causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic frequency adjustment by coupling the clock generator module with the power supply module. The clock generator receives the power supply voltage as input and dynamically adjusts the processor operating frequency based on the actual voltage level, enabling the system to adapt to voltage fluctuations and prevent crashes while maintaining optimal performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where the clock generator module continuously monitors the power supply voltage and adjusts the clock frequency accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the processor operates within stable voltage-frequency boundaries, preventing power supply dips from causing crashes while maximizing productivity
2Reliability
If the power supply voltage is increased to avoid power supply dips, then processor stability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the processor by dynamically adjusting the frequency based on the actual power supply voltage. Instead of maintaining a fixed high voltage to prevent dips, the system adjusts the frequency parameter to match the available voltage, thereby maintaining stability without the penalty of continuously high power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static voltage-frequency relationship to a dynamic one where the frequency automatically adapts to voltage fluctuations. This dynamic adjustment allows the processor to maintain stability during voltage dips without requiring the power supply to maintain a constantly elevated voltage level, thus reducing overall power consumption
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply circuit and a frequency adjustment method are provided, to improve running stability of a processing module (200). The power supply circuit obtains an operating voltage of the processing module (200), and generates, based on the operating voltage, a clock signal that indicates an operating frequency of the processing module (200), so that the processing module (200) runs at an operating frequency corresponding to a current operating voltage. Even if the operating voltage fluctuates, running of the processing module (200) is not affected. This improves running stability of the processing module (200) without increasing power consumption.