Power control system with performance monitoring

• US 9,429,973 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2013
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• 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:
  US14/143,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 702182-185
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A power control system, comprising:

a performance monitoring module configured to monitor a performance characteristic of a first integrated circuit;

in a first operating mode, said performance monitoring module is configured to determine power control information based on said performance characteristic of said first integrated circuit and a reduced power mode; and

in a second operating mode, said performance monitoring module is configured to determine further power control information based on said performance characteristic of said first integrated circuit and a further reduced power mode.

2. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said power control information and said further power control information are communicated with another module.

3. The power control system of claim 2, wherein said other module performs a power control function.

4. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said first integrated circuit is configured to operate in said reduced power mode.

5. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said first integrated circuit is configured to not operate in said further reduced power mode.

6. The power control system of claim 1, wherein in said first operating mode, said performance monitoring module is configured to determine said power control information by balancing between a plurality of different performance goals.

7. The power control system of claim 1, wherein in said first operating mode, said performance monitoring module is configured to determine said power control information by arbitrating between a plurality of different modules of said first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit.

8. The power control system of claim 1, wherein in said first operating mode, said performance monitoring module is configured to arbitrate between a plurality of different modules of said first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit based on respective priorities of said plurality of different modules.

9. The power control system of claim 1, wherein in said first operating mode, said performance monitoring module is configured to arbitrate between a plurality of different modules of said first integrated circuit and a second integrated circuit based on a priority-based weighted average.

10. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said performance characteristic comprises processing speed.

11. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said performance characteristic comprises temperature.

12. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said performance characteristic comprises error rate.

13. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said performance characteristic comprises one or both of energy consumption and energy efficiency.

14. The power control system of claim 1, further comprising a performance sensor that said performance monitoring module is configured to utilize to monitor said performance characteristic.

15. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said power control information comprises power adjustment information related to a change in said performance characteristic.

16. The power control system of claim 1, wherein said further power control information comprises power adjustment information related to a change in said performance characteristic.

17. A method, comprising:

monitoring a performance characteristic of a first integrated circuit in a system;

determining power control information based on said performance characteristic of said first integrated circuit and a first performance goal in a first operating mode;

determining further power control information based on said performance characteristic of said first integrated circuit and a second performance goal in a second operating mode; and

communicating said power control information and said further power control information with another module in said system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first performance goal is for said system to operate in a reduced power mode.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said second performance goal is for said system to operate in a further reduced power mode.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said first integrated circuit does not operate in said further reduced power mode.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said power control information comprises a power supply voltage level reduction.

22. A power control system, comprising:

a performance monitoring module configured to monitor a performance characteristic of a first integrated circuit;

a first performance sensor that said performance monitoring module is configured to utilize to monitor said performance characteristic; and

a second performance sensor utilized by said performance monitoring module,

wherein said first integrated circuit comprises said first performance sensor, and wherein an electrical device, different from said first integrated circuit, comprises said second performance sensor,

wherein, in a first operating mode, said performance monitoring module is configured to determine power control information based on said performance characteristic of said first integrated circuit and a reduced power mode, and

wherein, in a second operating mode, said performance monitoring module is configured to determine further power control information based on said performance characteristic of said first integrated circuit and a further reduced power mode.

23. The power control system of claim 22, wherein said performance monitoring module is further configured to use said second performance sensor to monitor a second performance characteristic of said electrical device.