Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Smitha L Rapaka

Xiaoling Xu

Derek E Gladding

Teague Curtiss Mapes

Patrick Y Law

Sunil Kumar Vemula

Venkatesh Balasubramanian

Cesar Maldonado

An activity smoothener circuit is provided to control rates of change in processing activity to limit di/dt in activity areas of an IC to mitigate voltage droops or overshoots. Controlling the rate of change of activity prevents or reduces instances of a di/dt exceeding a programmed maximum that is based on physical limits of the IC and/or a package. In examples, the activity smoothener circuit includes a hierarchy of smoothening circuits controlling activity in areas down to individual circuit blocks (tiles) including execution circuits. An indication of a desired level of activity is provided to a parent smoothening circuit and the parent smoothening circuit responds with indications of actual activity allowed to occur. At each level of hierarchy, the activity smoothener circuit may use algorithms to generate indications of actual activity based on indications of desired activity and di/dt limits. Di/dt limits and current minimums and maximums are controlled.

Activity smoothener circuit controlling rates of change of localized processing activity in an integrated circuit (IC), and related methods

Processor-based systems employing configurable local frequency throttling management to manage power demand and consumption, and related methods. For example, such processor-based systems may include a processor and other power circuitry to control power to the processor. The processor includes a clock control circuit that is configured generate a clock signal(s) at a designated frequency to clock a processor core(s) in the processor at a desired operating frequency(ies). The clock control circuit is configured to dynamically throttle (i.e., limit and/or reduce) the frequency(ies) of a clock signal(s) clocking the processor in response to a frequency throttle event that may be an unexpected event. Reducing power demand may be important to ensure that the processor can continue to operate under interrupted or reduced power supply conditions. It may be faster to throttle the operating frequency of a processor than to throttle the operating voltage of power supplied to the processor.

Processor-based system employing configurable local frequency throttling management to manage power demand and consumption, and related methods

Processor-based systems employing local dynamic power management based on controlling performance and operating power consumption, and related methods. The processor-based system is configured to locally manage its power consumption by dynamically adjusting operating frequency and/or operating voltage of power supplied to the processor-based system. The processor-based system includes a power control circuit that is aware of the overall power budget for the processor-based system. The control processor in the processor-based system can dynamically increase the voltage level of the power supplied to the processor-based system and/or the operating frequency if the consumed power is lower than the power budget. The power control circuit can also dynamically decrease the operating frequency and/or the voltage level of the power supplied to the processor-based system if the consumed power is higher than the power budget.

Processor-based system employing local dynamic power management based on controlling performance and operating power consumption, and related methods

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Smitha L Rapaka