POWER-GATING MEDIA DECODERS TO REDUCE POWER CONSUMPTION

• US 20090003115A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lindahl, Aram, Guetta, Anthony J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,632,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 365/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3225 of memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3275 Power saving in memory, e.g. RAM, cache
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Embodiments of a system that reduces power consumption by power-gating media decoders are described. During operation of the system, a decoder circuit receives encoded audio data and outputs corresponding decoded audio data to a memory, which is electrically coupled to the decoder circuit. Moreover, control logic, which is electrically coupled to the memory and the decoder circuit, provides commands to the memory and the decoder circuit that selectively disable at least a portion of the memory based on an amount of decoded audio data in the memory.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a decoder circuit configured to receive encoded audio data and to output decoded audio data;

memory electrically coupled to the decoder circuit; and

control logic electrically coupled to the memory and the decoder circuit, the control logic being configured to provide commands to the memory and the decoder circuit that selectively disable at least a portion of the memory based on an amount of decoded audio data in the memory.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portion of the memory which is selectively disabled is used when the decoder circuit is decoding audio data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the commands selectively disable at least a portion of the decoder circuit based on an amount of decoded audio data in the memory.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control logic is configured to select a duty cycle or a period for the selective disabling.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the commands include turning off a power-supply signal or a clock signal used by the portion of the memory.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the selective disabling is based on transient power consumption associated with disabling the portion of the memory.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control logic is configured to selectively disable the portion of the memory when the amount of decoded audio data exceeds a first pre-determined value.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control logic is configured to provide additional commands to the memory and the decoder circuit which selectively enable the portion of the memory based on the amount of decoded audio data in the memory.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control logic is configured to selectively disable the portion of the memory when the amount of decoded audio data exceeds a first pre-determined value, and

wherein the control logic is configured to selectively enable the portion of the memory when the amount of decoded audio data is less than a second pre-determined value.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first pre-determined value is different from the second pre-determined value.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the selective disabling is based on an amount of audio data remaining to be decoded or a rate of decoding of the audio data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the selective disabling is based on a mode of playing the decoded audio data.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the selective disabling is based on an amount of memory allocated for the decoded audio data.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the selective disabling is aborted if a mode of playing the decoded audio data is changed or if a new mode of playing increases consumption of the decoded audio data in the memory.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the selective disabling is aborted if an amount of memory allocated for the decoded audio data is changed.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the decoded audio data is associated with a file, and wherein the selective disabling is aborted if an end of the file is detected.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the selective disabling is aborted based on a state of the decoder circuit.

18. An integrated circuit, comprising:

an input interface configured to receive information from a memory and a decoder circuit, the decoder circuit being configured to provide decoded audio data to the memory, and the information indicating an amount of decoded audio data in the memory;

a circuit electrically coupled to the input interface, the circuit being configured to provide commands that selectively disable at least a portion of the memory based on the amount of decoded audio data; and

an output interface electrically coupled to the circuit, the output interface being configured to output the commands to the memory and the decoder circuit.

19. An integrated circuit, comprising:

an input interface configured to receive information from a first memory and a decoder circuit, the decoder circuit being configured to receive encoded audio data from the first memory and the first memory being configured to receive the encoded audio data from a second memory, wherein the information indicates an amount of encoded audio data in the first memory;

a circuit electrically coupled to the input interface, the circuit being configured to provide commands that selectively disable at least a portion of the second memory based on the amount of encoded audio data, the decoder circuit being configured to receive the encoded audio data from the first memory even when the portion of the second memory is disabled; and

an output interface electrically coupled to the circuit, the output interface being configured to output the commands to the second memory and the decoder circuit.

20. A portable device, comprising:

a processor;

a first memory;

a program, wherein the program is stored in the first memory and configured to be executed by the processor;

a decoder circuit configured to receive encoded audio data and to output decoded audio data;

a second memory electrically coupled to the decoder circuit; and

control logic electrically coupled to the second memory and the decoder circuit, the control logic being configured to provide commands to the second memory and the decoder circuit that selectively disable at least a portion of the second memory based on an amount of decoded audio data in the second memory.

21. The portable device of claim 20, further comprising a touch-sensitive display configured to determine movement of one or more points of contact by a user of the touch-sensitive display.

22. A method for conserving power, comprising:

receiving information from a memory and a decoder circuit, wherein the decoder circuit is configured to provide decoded audio data to the memory, and the information indicating an amount of decoded audio data in the memory;

determining whether to selectively disable at least a portion of the memory based on the amount of decoded audio data in the memory; and

providing commands to the memory and the decoder circuit that selectively disable the portion of the memory.

23. A system configured to execute instructions to conserve power, comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

an instruction fetch unit within the processor configured to fetch;

instructions for receiving information from a memory and a decoder circuit, the decoder circuit being configured to provide decoded audio data to the memory, and the information indicating an amount of decoded audio data in the memory;

instructions for determining whether to selectively disable at least a portion of the memory based on the amount of decoded audio data in the memory; and

instructions for providing commands to the memory and the decoder circuit that selectively disable the portion of the memory; and

an execution unit within the processor configured to execute the instructions for receiving the information, the instructions for determining whether to selectively disable at least the portion of the memory, and the instructions for providing the commands.