Power managers for an integrated circuit

• US 8,762,923 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management)
• Original Assignee: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Inventors: Hoberman, Barry Alan, Hillman, Daniel L., Shiell, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, SUN J
• Application Number:
  US13/473,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 716/100, 716/120, 716/126, 716/127, 716/132, 716/133
• US Class Current: 716/133
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/012 Modifications of generator to improve response time or to decrease power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A system for an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of power islands includes a first power manager and a second power manager. The first power manager manages a first power consumption for the integrated circuit based on needs and operation of the integrated circuit. The second power manager communicates with the first power manager and manages a second power consumption for one of the power islands.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an integrated circuit to effect power consumptions in operation, the power consumptions including a first power consumption and a second power consumption;

a plurality of power islands of the integrated circuit including a first power island having an associated power consumption, the associated power consumption of the first power island being the second power consumption;

a first power manager configured to manage the first power consumption based on needs and operation of the integrated circuit; and

a second power manager configured to;

a) communicate with the first power manager; and

b) respond to a request to manage the second power consumption for the first power island by;

i) changing a source voltage of the first power island;

ii) after the changing, waiting for the source voltage of the first power island to settle down; and

iii) after the waiting, changing a clock frequency of the first power island.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the changing a source voltage of the first power island is raising the source voltage, and the changing a clock frequency of the first power island is increasing the clock frequency.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the second power manager is further configured to respond to another request, the another request being to decrease the clock frequency and the source voltage of the first power island by:

lowering the clock frequency of the first power island and, after the lowering, decreasing the source voltage of the first power island.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first power manager is further configured to communicate the request to the second power manager.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the second power manager is further configured to respond to another request, the another request being to decrease the clock frequency and the source voltage of the first power island by:

lowering the clock frequency of the first power island and, after the lowering, decreasing the source voltage of the first power island.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the source voltage of the first power island is controlled by a smart power unit.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the source voltage of the first power island is provided by an external regulator.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of power islands includes a second power island, and the first power manager is further configured to determine power trade offs between the first power island and the second power island.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the second power manager comprises firmware processable on the integrated circuit.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the second power manager comprises a power management processor dedicated to execute power management software, the power management processor being located in the integrated circuit.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the power management software is embedded firmware in the integrated circuit.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the first power manager is located outside the integrated circuit.

13. A method carried out in a system that includes an integrated circuit that effects power consumptions in operation, the power consumptions including a first power consumption and a second power consumption, and the method comprising:

in a first power manager, managing the first power consumption based on needs and operation of the integrated circuit;

providing a clock to a first power island of a plurality of power islands of the integrated circuit, and the first power island having an associated power consumption that is the second power consumption;

providing a source voltage to the first power island; and

in a second power manager, communicating with the first power manager, and responding to a request to manage the second power consumption for the first power island by;

changing the source voltage of the first power island;

after the changing, waiting for the source voltage of the first power island to settle down; and

after the waiting, changing a clock frequency of the clock.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the changing the source voltage is raising the source voltage, and the changing a clock frequency is increasing the clock frequency.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising responding to another request that is received by the second power manager, the another request being to decrease the clock frequency of the clock and decrease the source voltage of the first power island by:

lowering the clock frequency of the clock and, after the lowering, decreasing the source voltage of the first power island.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the request is communicated to the second power manager by the first power manager.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising responding to another request that is received by the second power manager, the another request being to decrease the clock frequency of the clock and decrease the source voltage of the first power island by:

lowering the clock frequency of the clock and, after the lowering, decreasing the source voltage of the first power island.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the source voltage of the first power island is controlled by a smart power unit.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing external regulation for the source voltage of the first power island.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of power islands includes a second power island, and the first power manager determines power trade offs between the first power island and the second power island.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising, in a third power manager:

i) managing a third power consumption of the power consumptions, and the plurality of power islands including a second power island having an associated power consumption that is the third power consumption; and

ii) communicating with the first power manager.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the second and third power managers are at a same hierarchical level, and the first power manager is at a higher hierarchical level as compared to the second and third power managers.

23. A system comprising:

an integrated circuit to effect power consumptions in operation, the power consumptions including a first power consumption and a second power consumption;

a plurality of power islands of the integrated circuit including a first power island having an associated power consumption, the associated power consumption of the first power island being the second power consumption;

a first power manager configured to manage the first power consumption based on needs and the operation of the integrated circuit; and

a second power manager configured to;

a) communicate with the first power manager; and

b) respond to a request to manage the second power consumption for the first power island by;

i) stopping a clock of the first power island;

ii) saving a state of the first power island; and

iii) after the saving, powering off the first power island.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the second power manager is further configured to carry out the saving of the state of the first power island after the stopping.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the first power manager is further configured to communicate the request to the second power manager.

26. The system of claim 23 further comprising a buffer for storing the state that is saved.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the second power manager is further configured to respond to another request, the another request being to enter a powered up state by:

i) powering on the first power island;

ii) after the powering on, restoring the state of the first power island; and

iii) after the restoring, starting the clock of the first power island.

28. The system of claim 27 further comprising a buffer for storing the state that is saved, and the buffer being accessible during the restoring.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein the plurality of power islands includes a second power island, and the first power manager is further configured to determine power trade offs between the first power island and the second power island.

30. The system of claim 23 wherein the second power manager comprises firmware processable on the integrated circuit.

31. The system of claim 23 wherein the second power manager comprises a power management processor dedicated to execute power management software, the power management processor being located in the integrated circuit.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the power management software is embedded firmware in the integrated circuit.

33. The system of claim 23 wherein the first power manager is located outside the integrated circuit.

34. A method carried out in a system that includes an integrated circuit that effects power consumptions in operation, the power consumptions including a first power consumption and a second power consumption, and the method comprising:

in a first power manager, managing a first power consumption based on needs and operation of the integrated circuit;

providing a clock to a first power island of a plurality of power islands of the integrated circuit, and the first power island having an associated power consumption that is the second power consumption;

in a second power manager, communicating with the first power manager, and responding to a request to manage the second power consumption for the first power island by;

stopping the clock;

saving a state of the first power island; and

after the saving, powering off the first power island.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the saving of the state of the first power island is carried out after the stopping.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the request is communicated to the second power manager by the first power manager.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the state that is saved is stored in a buffer.

38. The method of claim 34 further comprising responding to another request that is received by the second power manager, the another request being to enter a powered up state by:

i) powering on the first power island;

ii) after the powering on, restoring the state of the first power island; and

iii) after the restoring, starting the clock.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the state that is saved is stored in a buffer accessed during the restoring.