Digital Voltage Regulation Controller with Power Gating Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to control the supply voltage of a chip effectively to balance power consumption and performance, as excessively low voltage reduces running speed and fails to meet performance requirements, while high integration demands efficient power management.
Innovation Solution
A digital fine control method for adjusting the supply voltage of a target load on a chip using a controller, sensors, and a power gating array, where the controller receives status representation values from sensors to determine voltage adjustments, allowing for precise digital voltage control and minimizing frequent voltage changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the supply voltage is reduced to lower power consumption, then power consumption is improved, but the running speed of the target load becomes slow and performance requirements cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic voltage adjustment by dividing the voltage adjustment range into multiple segments with different adjustment granularities. The controller dynamically selects the appropriate adjustment granularity based on the current operating state, enabling the system to adapt between power-saving mode (coarser adjustment) and performance mode (finer adjustment), thus resolving the contradiction between power consumption and running speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage adjustment range is segmented into multiple zones with different control granularities. By segmenting the control strategy, the system can apply coarse adjustment for large voltage changes (power optimization) and fine adjustment for precise voltage control (performance optimization), thereby balancing power consumption and running speed requirements.
2Measurement precision
If digital fine control is implemented for node voltage, then voltage adjustment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service by using the target load's own internal sensors to detect node voltage and feed back to the controller. This eliminates the need for external monitoring equipment, achieving precise digital control while minimizing additional device complexity. The controller processes the feedback and automatically adjusts voltage through the power gating array.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the voltage control function with the existing power gating array structure. The power gating array serves dual purposes: power management and voltage adjustment. By combining these functions, the system achieves fine voltage control without adding completely separate control hardware, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
3Productivity
If frequent voltage adjustments are made to maintain optimal performance, then performance is improved, but the system stability deteriorates due to frequent changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing threshold-based control. Instead of continuously adjusting voltage in response to every minor fluctuation, the system only triggers voltage adjustments when the node voltage deviates beyond predefined thresholds. This reduces unnecessary adjustments, maintaining system stability while still achieving optimal performance when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control where the controller continuously monitors node voltage through sensors and compares it with expected values. Based on the feedback from voltage deviations, the controller makes informed adjustment decisions. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures voltage adjustments are made only when necessary, balancing performance optimization with system stability.
Data Source
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Figure 2b~3
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AI summary
A voltage regulation method, a controller, and a chip are provided. In the method, a controller receives a digital first status representation value sent by a sensor; the controller determines, according to the first status representation value and at least one of a second status representation value or a first expected value, whether to regulate the supply voltage of the load, where the second status representation value represents a node voltage that is at a previous moment and that is of the detection point of the load, and the first expected value represents an expected value of a node voltage of the detection point; and when determining to regulate the supply voltage of the load, the controller sends a digital control signal to a power gating array, to control the power gating array to regulate the supply voltage.