Workload-Driven Root Clock Throttling for Clock Tree Power Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic circuits face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption, particularly in application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), where power dissipation is a significant design concern, especially in battery-powered devices.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a block within the electronic circuit that includes a clock distribution tree. This block is configured to control the passage of clock pulses based on workload information, ensuring that only necessary clock pulses are permitted to pass through, thereby optimizing power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clock pulses are continuously distributed throughout the clock distribution tree, then timing requirements are met, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the clock distribution adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts clock pulse distribution based on real-time workload conditions, enabling the clock tree to transition between active and inactive states in different portions, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining timing requirements when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different portions of the clock distribution tree to have different operational states. Some portions receive clock pulses while others are throttled or stopped, based on their specific workload requirements. This localized control enables power savings in inactive regions without compromising timing in active regions
2Use of energy by moving object
If clock pulses are throttled to reduce power consumption, then power usage decreases, but timing requirements may not be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where workload information is continuously monitored and used to adjust clock pulse distribution. The system receives feedback about actual workload conditions and dynamically modifies the throttling level accordingly, ensuring that timing requirements are met when workload demands it while maximizing power savings when workload is low
3Speed
If all clock pulses are permitted to pass through the clock distribution tree, then processing speed is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by allowing clock pulses to pass through only the portions of the clock distribution tree that currently need them. Instead of uniformly distributing all clock pulses throughout the entire tree, the system selectively enables clock distribution to specific regions based on their instantaneous workload, achieving partial action that balances speed and power consumption
Data Source
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AI summary
Various example embodiments for supporting power optimizations for electronic circuits are presented. Various example embodiments for supporting power optimizations for electronic circuits may be configured to support power optimizations for a block of an electronic circuit. Various example embodiments for supporting power optimizations for a block of an electronic circuit may be configured to support a reduction in power consumption by a clock distribution tree of the block of the electronic circuit. Various example embodiments for supporting a reduction in power consumption by a clock distribution tree of a block of an electronic circuit may be configured to reduce power consumption by the clock distribution tree of the block of the electronic circuit by supporting root clock throttling for the block of the electronic circuit, based on a workload on the block of the electronic circuit, to reduce power consumption by the clock distribution tree of the block of the electronic circuit.