On-board performance monitor and power control system

• US 8,108,181 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kim, Neil Y., Vorenkamp, Pieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US12/950,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 702182-185, 702/188
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/28 Testing of electronic circuits, e.g. by signal tracer EMC, EMP or similar testing of electronic circuits G01R31/002; testing for short-circuits, discontinuities, leakage or incorrect line connection G01R31/50; checking computers or computer components G06F11/00; checking static stores for correct operation G11C29/00 ; testing receivers or transmitters of transmission systems H04B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3409 for performance assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof

Abstract

A system and method for controlling performance and/or power based on monitored performance characteristics. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise an integrated circuit comprising a first circuit module that receives electrical power. A second circuit module may monitor one or more performance characteristics of the first circuit module and/or the integrated circuit. A third circuit module may, for example, determine power control information based at least in part on the monitored performance characteristic(s). The power control information may be communicated to power supply circuitry to control various characteristics of the electrical power. Various aspects of the present invention may also comprise an integrated circuit comprising a first module that monitors at least one performance characteristic of a first electrical device. The integrated circuit may also comprise modules that determine power control information based on the monitored performance characteristic(s) and communicate such power control information to power supply circuitry.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit comprising:

a first module that operates to receive electrical power and perform a function; and

at least a second module that operates to, at least;

monitor a performance characteristic of one or both of the first module and the integrated circuit;

in a first operating mode, determine power control information based, at least in part, on the monitored performance characteristic and a first performance goal for the monitored performance characteristic;

in a second operating mode, determine power control information based, at least in part, on the monitored performance characteristic and a second performance goal for the monitored performance characteristic, where the second performance goal is different from the first performance goal; and

communicate the determined power control information with a third module.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the at least a second module operates to:

monitor a second performance characteristic of one or both of the first module and the integrated circuit, where the second performance characteristic is different from the performance characteristic; and

in the first operating mode, determine the power control information based, at least in part, on the monitored performance characteristic and the second monitored performance characteristic.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein, in the first operating mode, the at least a second module operates to determine the power control information by, at least in part, operating to balance between a plurality of different types of performance goals.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein, in the first operating mode, the at least a second module operates to determine the power control information by, at least in part, operating to arbitrate between a plurality of different modules of the integrated circuit.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 4, wherein, in the first operating mode, the at least a second module operates to arbitrate between the plurality of different modules of the integrated circuit based, at least in part, on respective priorities of the plurality of different modules.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 1, where the third module operates to perform power control functionality.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 1, where the third module is external to the integrated circuit.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 1, where the performance characteristic comprises processing speed.

9. The integrated circuit of claim 1, where the performance characteristic comprises temperature.

10. The integrated circuit of claim 1, where the performance characteristic comprises error rate.

11. The integrated circuit of claim 1, where the performance characteristic comprises one or both of energy consumption and energy efficiency.

12. The integrated circuit of claim 1, comprising a performance sensor that the at least a second module utilizes to monitor the performance characteristic.

13. The integrated circuit of claim 1, where the power control information comprises power adjustment information related to a change in the monitored performance characteristic.

14. In an integrated circuit, a method for controlling electrical power, the method comprising:

in the integrated circuit;

receiving electrical power at a first circuit module of the integrated circuit and utilizing the electrical power to perform a function;

monitoring a performance characteristic of one or both of the first circuit module and the integrated circuit;

in a first operating mode, determining power control information based, at least in part, on the monitored performance characteristic and a first performance goal for the monitored performance characteristic;

in a second operating mode, determining power control information based, at least in part, on the monitored performance characteristic and a second performance goal for the monitored performance characteristic, where the second performance goal is different from the first performance goal; and

communicating the determined power control information with a third circuit module.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising:

monitoring a second performance characteristic of one or both of the first circuit module and the integrated circuit, where the second performance characteristic is different from the performance characteristic; and

in the first operating mode, determining the power control information based, at least in part, on the monitored performance characteristic and the second monitored performance characteristic.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein, in the first operating mode, said determining power control information comprises balancing between a plurality of different types of performance goals.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein, in the first operating mode, said determining power control information comprises arbitrating between a plurality of different circuit modules of the integrated circuit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said arbitrating comprises arbitrating between the plurality of different circuit modules of the integrated circuit based, at least in part, on respective priorities of the plurality of different circuit modules.

19. The method of claim 14, where the third circuit module performs power control functionality.

20. The method of claim 14, where the third circuit module is external to the integrated circuit.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the performance characteristic comprises processing speed.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the performance characteristic comprises temperature.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the performance characteristic comprises error rate.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the performance characteristic comprises one or both of energy consumption and energy efficiency.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring the performance characteristic utilizing a performance sensor on-board the integrated circuit.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the power control information comprises power adjustment information related to a change in the monitored performance characteristic.

27. An integrated circuit comprising:

a first module that operates to receive electrical power and perform a function; and

at least a second module that operates to, at least;

monitor a performance characteristic of one or both of the first module and the integrated circuit;

in a first operating mode, determine power control information based, at least in part, on the monitored performance characteristic and a first performance goal for the monitored performance characteristic;

in a second operating mode, determine power control information based, at least in part, on the monitored performance characteristic and a second performance goal for the monitored performance characteristic, where the second performance goal is different from the first performance goal; and

communicate the determined power control information with a third module,

wherein, in the first operating mode, the at least a second module operates to;

determine the power control information by, at least in part, operating to arbitrate between a plurality of different modules of the integrated circuit; and

arbitrate between the plurality of different modules of the integrated circuit based, at least in part, on a priority-based weighted average.

28. In an integrated circuit, a method for controlling electrical power, the method comprising:

in the integrated circuit;

receiving electrical power at a first circuit module of the integrated circuit and utilizing the electrical power to perform a function;

monitoring a performance characteristic of one or both of the first circuit module and the integrated circuit;

in a first operating mode, determining power control information based, at least in part, on the monitored performance characteristic and a first performance goal for the monitored performance characteristic;

in a second operating mode, determining power control information based, at least in part, on the monitored performance characteristic and a second performance goal for the monitored performance characteristic, where the second performance goal is different from the first performance goal; and

communicating the determined power control information with a third circuit module,

wherein, in the first operating mode, said determining power control information comprises arbitrating between a plurality of different circuit modules of the integrated circuit, and wherein said arbitrating comprises arbitrating between the plurality of different circuit modules of the integrated circuit based, at least in part, on a priority-based weighted average.