Power Managers for an Integrated Circuit
AssigneeConversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
InventorsBarry Alan Hoberman, Daniel L. Hillman, Jon Shiell
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Abstract
A system for an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of power islands includes a first power manager and a second power manager. The first power manager manages a first power consumption for the integrated circuit based on needs and operation of the integrated circuit. The second power manager communicates with the first power manager and manages a second power consumption for one of the power islands.
Claims39
A system comprising:
- an integrated circuit to effect power consumptions in operation, the power consumptions including first and second power consumptions;
- a plurality of power islands of the integrated circuit including a first power island having an associated power consumption, the associated power consumption of the first power island being the second power consumption;
- a first power manager configured to manage the first power consumption based on needs and the operation of the integrated circuit;
- and
- a second power manager configured to:
- a) communicate with the first power manager;
- and
- b) respond to a request to manage the second power consumption for the first power island by:
- i) changing the source voltage of the first power island;
- ii) after the changing, waiting for the source voltage of the first power island to settle down;
- and
- iii) after the waiting, changing the clock frequency of the first power island.
A method carried out in a system that includes an integrated circuit that effects power consumptions in operation, the power consumptions including first and second power consumptions, and the method comprising:
- in a first power manager, managing a first power consumption based on needs and the operation of the integrated circuit;
- providing a clock to a first power island of a plurality of power islands of the integrated circuit, and the first power island having an associated power consumption that is the second power consumption;
- providing a source voltage to the first power island;
- and
- in a second power manager, communicating with the first power manager, and responding to a request to manage the second power consumption for the first power island by:
- changing the source voltage of the first power island;
- after the changing, waiting for the source voltage of the first power island to settle down;
- and
- after the waiting, changing the clock frequency of the clock.
A system comprising:
- an integrated circuit to effect power consumptions in operation, the power consumptions including first and second power consumptions;
- a plurality of power islands of the integrated circuit including a first power island having an associated power consumption, the associated power consumption of the first power island being the second power consumption;
- a first power manager configured to manage the first power consumption based on needs and the operation of the integrated circuit;
- and
- a second power manager configured to:
- a) communicate with the first power manager;
- and
- b) respond to a request to manage the second power consumption for the first power island by:
- i) stopping a clock of the first power island;
- ii) saving a state of the first power island;
- and
- iii) after the saving, powering off the first power island.
A method carried out in a system that includes an integrated circuit that effects power consumptions in operation, the power consumptions including first and second power consumptions, and the method comprising:
- in a first power manager, managing a first power consumption based on needs and the operation of the integrated circuit;
- providing a clock to a first power island of a plurality of power islands of the integrated circuit, and the first power island having an associated power consumption that is the second power consumption;
- in a second power manager, communicating with the first power manager, and responding to a request to manage the second power consumption for the first power island by:
- stopping the clock;
- saving a state of the first power island;
- and
- after the saving, powering off the first power island.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.