Architecture for controlling dissipated power in a system-on-chip and related system
First Claim
1. A system-on-chip (SoC) comprising:
- a plurality of blocks, each block including a power control module to selectively control the power dissipated by the block, and a respective power control register to receive power control instructions to selectively control the power control module; and
at least one power control unit for writing respective power control instructions into the power control registers of the plurality of blocks, so that the power dissipated by the blocks is controlled individually and independently for each of said plurality of blocks under the centralized control of the at least one power control unit;
each block further comprising a power status register to receive status information concerning power control within the respective block, and wherein said at least one power control unit reads the status information from the power status registers of the plurality of blocks;
the at least one power control unit defining a master block of the plurality of blocks for reading the status information from said power status registers of the plurality of blocks.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system-on-chip (SoC) architecture includes a plurality of blocks, each including a power control module to selectively control the power dissipated by the bloc. For each block, a power register is provided to receive power control instructions to selectively control the respective power control module. The system also includes a power control unit for writing respective power control instructions into the power control registers of the blocks, whereby the power dissipated is controlled individually and independently for each block under the centralized control of the power control unit. For each block, a power status register is also provided to receive status information concerning power control within the respective block. The power control unit reads the status instructions from such power status registers.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system-on-chip (SoC) comprising:
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a plurality of blocks, each block including a power control module to selectively control the power dissipated by the block, and a respective power control register to receive power control instructions to selectively control the power control module; and at least one power control unit for writing respective power control instructions into the power control registers of the plurality of blocks, so that the power dissipated by the blocks is controlled individually and independently for each of said plurality of blocks under the centralized control of the at least one power control unit; each block further comprising a power status register to receive status information concerning power control within the respective block, and wherein said at least one power control unit reads the status information from the power status registers of the plurality of blocks; the at least one power control unit defining a master block of the plurality of blocks for reading the status information from said power status registers of the plurality of blocks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system-on-chip (SoC) comprising:
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a plurality of blocks, each block including a power control module to selectively control power dissipation of the block, and a respective power control register for locally controlling the power control module; and at least one power control unit for centrally controlling the power control modules by sending respective power control signals to the power control registers; each block further comprising a power status register to receive status information concerning power control within the respective block, and wherein said at least one power control unit reads the status information from the power status registers of the plurality of blocks; the at least one power control unit defining a master block of the plurality of blocks for reading the status information from said power status registers of the plurality of blocks. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a system-on-chip (SoC) including a plurality of blocks, the method comprising:
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selectively controlling power dissipation of each block by providing each block with a power control module; locally controlling the power control module with a respective power control register; centrally controlling the power control modules with at least one power control unit sending respective power control signals to the power control registers; generating and storing status information concerning power control within the respective block in a power status register; and reading the status information from the power status registers with the at least one power control unit; the at least one power control unit defining a master block of the plurality of blocks for reading the status information from the power status registers of the plurality of blocks. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification