Dynamic voltage-frequency scaling to limit power transients
First Claim
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1. A method of dynamically scaling voltage and frequency of a device, comprising:
- sensing a supply current in a device;
computing a load-line voltage by dividing a peak power dissipation rating of the device by the supply current, wherein the load-line voltage decreases as the supply current increases;
regulating a supply voltage of the device at a target voltage when the load-line voltage is greater than the target voltage, wherein the target voltage is configurable and set based on a parameter provided externally from the device;
regulating the supply voltage of the device at the load-line voltage when the load-line voltage is less than the target voltage, wherein regulating the supply voltage at the load-line voltage operates the device at the peak power dissipation rating of the device; and
setting a clock frequency for the device based on the supply voltage, wherein the clock frequency decreases as the supply voltage decreases and the clock frequency increases as the supply voltage increases.
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Abstract
A clocked electronic device includes first and second control systems. The first control system is configured to decrease clock frequency in the device in response to decreasing supply voltage. The second control system is responsive to clock lag in the device and to an amount of current drawn through the device. It is configured to increase the supply voltage in response to increasing clock lag, but to decrease the supply voltage when the current drawn through the device exceeds an operational threshold.
112 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of dynamically scaling voltage and frequency of a device, comprising:
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sensing a supply current in a device; computing a load-line voltage by dividing a peak power dissipation rating of the device by the supply current, wherein the load-line voltage decreases as the supply current increases; regulating a supply voltage of the device at a target voltage when the load-line voltage is greater than the target voltage, wherein the target voltage is configurable and set based on a parameter provided externally from the device; regulating the supply voltage of the device at the load-line voltage when the load-line voltage is less than the target voltage, wherein regulating the supply voltage at the load-line voltage operates the device at the peak power dissipation rating of the device; and setting a clock frequency for the device based on the supply voltage, wherein the clock frequency decreases as the supply voltage decreases and the clock frequency increases as the supply voltage increases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A device, comprising:
a power management unit (PMU) configured to; sense a supply current in the device; compute a load-line voltage by dividing a peak power dissipation rating of the device by the supply current, wherein the load-line voltage decreases as the supply current increases; regulate a supply voltage of the device at a target voltage when the load-line voltage is greater than the target voltage, wherein the target voltage is configurable and set based on a parameter provided externally from the device; regulate the supply voltage of the device at the load-line voltage when the load-line voltage is less than the target voltage, wherein regulating the supply voltage at the load-line voltage operates the device at the peak power dissipation rating of the device; and set a clock frequency for the device based on the supply voltage, wherein the clock frequency decreases as the supply voltage decreases and the clock frequency increases as the supply voltage increases. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
Specification