Voltage Power Manager Subsystem Power Limit Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Computing systems face challenges in dynamically managing power limits across sub-systems without impacting the main CPU, as existing methods fail to efficiently adjust power usage in response to exceeded thresholds, potentially leading to system instability and increased energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a voltage power manager (VPM) and a monitor to detect power events, adjust power limits of sub-systems like GPUs by predetermined increments, and maintain CPU power limits constant, employing PROCHOT functions to dynamically alter power states based on event types and durations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If power limits of sub-systems are dynamically adjusted in response to exceeded thresholds, then system stability is improved and energy consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases due to the need for monitoring and control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidpower management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sub-system autonomously monitors its own power consumption and automatically adjusts its power limit when thresholds are exceeded, without requiring external intervention from the main system. This self-service mechanism reduces the complexity of centralized power management while maintaining system stability through local adaptive control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of energy

If power consumption of sub-systems is reduced during events, then energy efficiency is improved, but productivity decreases due to limited power availability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidsub-system performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The power limit of the sub-system is dynamically adjusted based on real-time monitoring of power consumption thresholds. When thresholds are exceeded, the power limit is reduced; when thresholds are within acceptable ranges, the power limit is increased. This dynamic adjustment optimizes energy efficiency while minimizing impact on productivity by adapting power availability to actual system conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If power limit of sub-system is altered by predetermined increments, then power management precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple power states

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower limit control precisionVSAvoidpower state management

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power limit parameter of the sub-system is adjusted in predetermined increments (e.g., 5W steps) when power consumption thresholds are exceeded. This quantized parameter change provides precise control over power consumption while simplifying the management complexity by using discrete, predefined adjustment levels rather than continuous variable control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11614786B2Power limit alterations of component types

Publication Date: 2023.03.28 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

In some examples, a non-transitory machine-readable medium can include instructions executable by a processing resource to: monitor system power for a computing system that includes a first computing component type and a second computing component type, determine a power event type for the computing system based on the monitored system power, and alter a power limit of the second computing component type by a predetermined increment based on the power event type while maintaining a power limit of the first computing component type when the second computing component type is a sub-system of the computing system.