Wear-out equalization techniques for multiple functional units
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsStefan Rusu, Zhiguo Wang, Krishnakanth V. Sistla
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Abstract
Wear-out equalization techniques for multiple functional hardware units are disclosed. An integrated circuit includes a power control unit (PCU) configured to monitor indicators of wear-out incurred by multiple functional hardware units of the integrated circuit. The PCU calculates cumulative wear-out metrics of the functional hardware units based on the monitored indicators and performs an equalization action to equalize the cumulative wear-out metrics of the functional hardware units.
Claims26
An integrated circuit comprising:
- a power control unit (PCU);
- and
- a plurality of functional hardware units coupled to the power control unit, wherein the PCU is configured to:
- monitor indicators of wear-out incurred by the plurality of functional hardware units;
- calculate cumulative wear-out metrics of the plurality of functional hardware units based on the monitored indicators;
- and
- perform an equalization action to equalize the cumulative wear-out metrics of the plurality of functional hardware units.
A method comprising:
- monitoring, by a power control unit (PCU), indicators of wear-out incurred by a plurality of functional hardware units of an integrated circuit;
- calculating, by the PCU, cumulative wear-out metrics of the plurality of functional hardware units based on the monitored indicators;
- and
- performing an equalization action to equalize the cumulative wear-out metrics of the plurality of functional hardware units.
A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform a method comprising:
- monitoring indicators of wear-out incurred by a plurality of functional hardware units of an integrated circuit;
- calculating cumulative wear-out metrics of the plurality of functional hardware units based on the monitored indicators;
- and
- performing an equalization action to equalize the cumulative wear-out metrics of the plurality of functional hardware units.
A system comprising:
- a single integrated circuit die comprising a plurality of functional hardware units, wherein the plurality of functional hardware units comprise at least two processor cores and at least one graphics core;
- a peripheral device;
- a chipset coupled to the peripheral device and the single integrated circuit die, wherein the single integrated circuit die comprises a power control unit (PCU) configured to:
- calculate incremental wear-out calculations for the at least two processor cores and the at least one graphics cores;
- add each of the incremental wear-out calculations to a respective accumulated wear-out calculation for each of the at least two processor cores and the at least one graphics cores;
- and
- perform an equalization algorithm to equalize wear-out of the at least two processor cores and the at least one graphics cores based on the accumulated wear-out calculations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.