Power Management Methods for System on a Chip
OwnerYang Paninventor
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Abstract
Methods for reducing power consumption of a system on a chip (SOC) are disclosed. The system comprises multiple subsystems. Each of the subsystems comprises a first voltage regulator and a second voltage regulator that may be placed closely on a layout. The first voltage regulator is coupled to at least one performance sensor. A controller initiates a power optimization program that determines minimal output voltage of the first voltage regulator for achieving minimal acceptable performances of the performance sensors. Determined output voltage is duplicated to a second voltage regulator to supply power for system components of the subsystem.
Claims20
A subsystem of a system on a chip (SOC) comprising:
- (a) a first programmable voltage regulator coupled to at least one performance sensor,
- (b) a second programmable voltage regulator coupled to system components of said subsystems;
- (c) a controller coupled to said first voltage regulator and said second voltage regulator;
- and
- (d) a means of determining minimal output voltage of said regulators for achieving minimal acceptable performances of said subsystem,
- wherein said performance sensor generates one or a plurality of performance indicators, wherein said performance indicators further comprise performance limits, wherein said performance limits of said performance sensor are correlated to performance limits of said subsystem.
A power management method for a system on a chip (SOC) comprising a plurality of subsystems, the method comprising:
- (a) sending a control signal from a controller to generate a first output voltage for a first programmable voltage regulator and to generate a second output voltage for a second programmable voltage regulator, wherein said first voltage regulator is coupled to at least one performance sensor and said second voltage regulator is coupled to system components of the subsystem;
- (b) determining minimal output voltage of said first voltage regulator for achieving minimal acceptable performances of the performance sensor;
- and
- (c) setting by the controller the output of said second voltage regulator to said minimal output voltage of said first voltage regulator.
A system on a chip (SOC) comprising:
- (a) a plurality of subsystems, each of the subsystems further comprising a first programmable voltage regulator and a second programmable voltage regulator, wherein said first voltage regulator is coupled to at least one performance sensor and said second voltage regulator is coupled to system components;
- (b) a power bus for distributing electrical power from a power supply to the subsystems;
- (c) a controller coupled to each of the subsystems through a data bus;
- and
- (d) a means of determining minimal bias voltage for each of said subsystems that delivers minimal acceptable performances.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.