Multi-thread power limiting via shared limit

A method for controlling power consumption in a computing device, the method comprising:

• measuring power on a core-by-core basis for a plurality of processing cores in the computing device;
• calculating a total power consumed by all processing cores;
• generating a shared power limit based on the total power and a predefined limit;
• comparing a value associated with power consumed by an individual processing core of the plurality of processing cores to the shared power limit;
• and
• when the power consumed by the individual processing core exceeds the shared power limit, stalling the individual processing core.

An integrated circuit (IC) comprising:

• a multi-thread processing core comprising:
• a thread logic;
• a plurality of digital power meters configured to measure power on a thread-by-thread basis at the thread logic;
• a summation circuit configured to sum outputs from the plurality of digital power meters;
• a first comparator configured to compare an output of the summation circuit to a predefined limit;
• and
• a second comparator configured to compare an output of a digital power meter of the plurality of digital power meters to a shared power limit derived from an output of the first comparator.

An integrated circuit (IC) comprising:

• a multi-thread processing core comprising:
• a plurality of thread execution circuits;
• a plurality of digital power meters configured to measure power on a thread-by-thread basis at a corresponding thread execution circuit;
• a summation circuit configured to sum outputs from the plurality of digital power meters;
• a manipulation circuit configured to operate on the sum;
• a first comparator configured to compare an output of the manipulation circuit to a predefined limit;
• a multiplexor configured to use the compare result from the first comparator to select a minimum limit or a maximum limit;
• a circuit that uses a multiplexor output to generate a shared power limit;
• and
• a second comparator configured to compare an output of a digital power meter of the plurality of digital power meters to the shared power limit.