Dynamic low power states characterization

A low power states characterization system, comprising:

• a processor coupled to a power supply, the processor including a plurality of idle power states, each idle power state associated with an idle period;
• a current detector that is arranged to perform power measurements of the processor and to report a total power consumption of the processor for each possible idle power state over a plurality of different durations for each possible idle power state;
• and
• a calibration unit that is arranged to communicate with the current detector and the processor, and to store the reported total power consumption data from the detector, and wherein the calibration unit activates a calibration sequence to select an optimal idle power state of the processor in response to comparisons of the received total power consumption data with the stored total power consumption data for each idle power state, repeating the calibration sequence for different idle periods over each idle power state, and selecting an optimal idle power state for a given idle period in response to the total power consumption data reported by the current detector.

A method, comprising:

• selecting an idle state as an optimal idle state from a group of the characterized idle states in response to an estimated idle period in which a processor is estimated to remain in the selected idle state;
• providing processor power indications that are used to determine an amount of power consumed by the processor while the processor is in any of the idle states of the group of characterized idle states;
• and
• characterizing each idle state of the group of characterized idle states in response to the provided processor power indications, wherein each idle state is characterized by determining an aggregate amount of power consumed by the processor during each iteration of the processor operating in the idle state for a different idle period.