Dynamically scalable cache architecture
AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorPreetham Raghuvanshi
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Abstract
A technique for managing power consumption of a cache memory system dynamically adjusts the size of the cache memory system according to an energy level of an energy storage device. In at least one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus includes a dynamically scalable cache memory circuit including at least one cache memory circuit having an effective cache size selectable from a plurality of cache sizes. The apparatus includes a control circuit responsive to an energy level indicator of at least an approximate energy level of an energy storage device configured to provide energy to the dynamically scalable cache memory circuit. The control circuit is configured to select the effective cache size based at least in part on the energy level indicator.
Claims28
An apparatus comprising:
- a dynamically scalable cache memory circuit including at least one cache memory circuit having an effective cache size selectable from a plurality of cache sizes;
- and
- a control circuit responsive to an energy level indicator of at least an approximate energy level of an energy storage device configured to provide energy to the dynamically scalable cache memory circuit, the control circuit being configured to select the effective cache size based at least in part on the energy level indicator.
A method comprising:
- selectively providing power to a dynamically scalable cache memory circuit to select an effective size of a cache memory circuit in the dynamically scalable cache memory circuit based at least in part on at least an approximate energy level of an energy storage device configured to provide energy to the dynamically scalable cache memory circuit.
An apparatus comprising:
- cache memory means having a selectable power consumption characteristic;
- and
- means for selecting a power consumption characteristic of the cache memory means based at least in part on an energy level of an energy storage device coupled to provide energy to the cache memory means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.