# US 8,572,416 B2 · Low power computer with main and auxiliary processors

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- Number: US 8,572,416 B2
- Document ID: US8572416B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/787,478
- Filed: 2010-05-26
- Published: 2010-09-16
- Granted: 2013-10-29
- Earliest claimed: 2004-06-10
- Assignees: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
- Applicants: Sehat Sutardja; Hong-Yi Chen
- Inventors: Sehat Sutardja; Hong-Yi Chen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8572416B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/3293: by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
- G06F 1/3203: Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
- G06F 1/324: by lowering clock frequency
- G06F 1/3275: {Power saving in memory, e.g. RAM, cache}
- G06F 12/08: in hierarchically structured memory systems, e.g. virtual memory systems
- G06F 12/0866: for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
- G06F 12/0897: with two or more cache hierarchy levels (with multilevel cache hierarchies G06F12/0811)
- G06F 13/28: using burst mode transfer, e.g. direct memory access {DMA}, cycle steal (G06F13/32 takes precedence)
- G06F 2212/222: Non-volatile memory
- Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
- Y02D 30/50: in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

A processing device including first processors, second processors, a first chipset, and a second chipset. The first chipset is in communication with the first processors via a first bus. The second chipset is in communication with the first chipset via a second bus and is directly connected to the second processors. The first chipset and the second chipset are connected between (i) the first processors and (ii) a first non-volatile memory and a second non-volatile memory. The second chipset is connected between (i) the second processors and (ii) the first non-volatile memory and the second non-volatile memory. The first processors access the first non-volatile memory during a first power mode. The second processors access the second non-volatile memory during a second power mode that is different than the first power mode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A processing device comprising:
a plurality of first processors;
a plurality of second processors;
a first chipset in communication with the plurality of first processors via a first bus; and
a second chipset in communication with the first chipset via a second bus,
wherein the second chipset is directly connected to the plurality of second processors,
wherein the first chipset and the second chipset are connected between (i) the plurality of first processors and (ii) a first non-volatile memory and a second non-volatile memory,
wherein the second chipset is connected between (i) the plurality of second processors and (ii) the first non-volatile memory and the second non-volatile memory,
wherein the plurality of first processors are configured to access the first non-volatile memory during a first power mode, and
wherein the plurality of second processors are configured to access the second non-volatile memory during a second power mode that is different than the first power mode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The processing device of claim 1, wherein:
the plurality of first processors comprise a primary processor and a first graphics processor; and
the plurality of second processors comprise a second processor and a second graphics processor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The processing device of claim 1, wherein:
a first transistor of at least one of the plurality of first processors is configured to operate at a first duty cycle; and
a second transistor of at least one of the plurality of second processors is configured to operate at a second duty cycle that is different than the first duty cycle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The processing device of claim 3, wherein:
the plurality of first processors comprise a primary processor and a first graphics processor;
the plurality of second processors comprise a secondary processor and a second graphics processor;
the first transistor is configured to operate at less than a 20% duty cycle; and
the second transistor is configured to operate at less than a 80% duty cycle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The processing device of claim 1, wherein the second chipset is connected between (i) the first chipset and (ii) the first non-volatile memory and the second non-volatile memory.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The processing device of claim 1, wherein the first chipset is connected between (i) the plurality of first processors and (ii) the second chipset.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The processing device of claim 1, wherein during the second power mode:
the plurality of first processors are inactive;
the first chipset is partially inactive;
the second chipset is active; and
the plurality of second processors are active.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The processing device of claim 7, further comprising memory directly connected to the first chipset, wherein the memory is accessible by the first chipset during the second power mode.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The processing device of claim 1, further comprising flash memory directly connected to the second chipset, wherein the flash memory is active during the second power mode.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The processing device of claim 9, further comprising memory directly connected to the first chipset, wherein the memory is (i) accessible by the first chipset during the first power mode, and (ii) inactive during the second power mode.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The processing device of claim 9, wherein the first non-volatile memory is inactive during the second power mode.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The processing device of claim 1, wherein:
the first non-volatile memory includes a first hard disk drive; and
the second non-volatile memory includes a second hard disk drive.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The processing device of claim 1, further comprising:
a third bus in communication with the second chipset;
a basic input and output system in communication with the second chipset via the third bus;
at least one of a keyboard and a pointing device in communication with the second chipset via the third bus; and
an audio device in communication with the second chipset via the third bus,
wherein the basic input and output system, the at least one of the keyboard and the pointing device, and the audio device are inactive during the second power mode.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The processing device of claim 13, wherein:
the first bus is a system bus;
the second bus is a peripheral component interconnect bus; and
the third bus is an industry standard architecture bus.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The processing device of claim 1, wherein:
the first bus is a system bus; and
the second bus is a peripheral component interconnect bus.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The processing device of claim 1, wherein:
the plurality of first processors are configured to consume power at a first rate during the first power mode;
the plurality of first processors are configured to consume power at a second rate during the second power mode, wherein the second rate is less than the first rate; and
the plurality of second processors are configured to consume power at a third rate that is less than the first rate.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A system comprising:
a host computer comprising the processing device of claim 1;
the first non-volatile memory;
the second non-volatile memory;
a host control module; and
a drive control module in communication with the processing device via the host control module, wherein the drive control module is connected between the (i) host control module and (ii) the first non-volatile memory and the second non-volatile memory.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the drive control module is configured to control data access to the first non-volatile memory and the second non-volatile memory such that the first non-volatile memory and the second non-volatile memory are operated together as a single non-volatile memory relative to the host computer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein:
the first non-volatile memory includes a first hard disk drive; and
the second non-volatile memory includes a second hard disk drive.