DRAM power management
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsLeslie D. Kohn, Kunle A. Olukotun, Michael K. Wong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for limiting power consumption of a computer memory system. The system and method includes selecting a memory access rate. The selected memory access rate corresponds to a desired average memory power consumption rate. A first time interval is started as a current time interval. A memory system is accessed. If the memory access rate has not been exceeded, then the access is applied to the memory system. Alternatively, if the memory access rate has been exceeded, then the access is delayed until the current time interval has expired and a subsequent time interval is started as the current time interval and the access is applied to the memory system.
Claims18
A computing system comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory system, that includes at least one DRAM module;
- a DRAM controller, wherein the DRAM controller includes:
- logic for selecting a memory access rate, the selected memory access rate corresponding to a desired average memory power consumption rate;
- logic for starting a first time interval as a current time interval;
- logic for accessing a memory system;
- logic for determining if the memory access rate has not been exceeded, then applying the access to the memory system;
- and
- logic for determining if the memory access rate has been exceeded, then:
- logic for delaying the access until the current time interval has expired;
- logic for starting a subsequent time interval as the current time interval;
- and
- logic for applying the access to the memory system;
- and
- a bus that couples the memory system, the processor and the DRAM controller.
A method for limiting power consumption of a computer memory system comprising:
- selecting a memory access rate, the selected memory access rate corresponds to a desired average memory power consumption rate;
- starting a first time interval as a current time interval;
- accessing a memory system;
- if the memory access rate has not been exceeded, then applying the access to the memory system;
- and
- if the memory access rate has been exceeded, then:
- delaying the access until the current time interval has expired;
- starting a subsequent time interval as the current time interval;
- and
- applying the access to the memory system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.