Patent · US Active

Ultra-low-power design memory power reduction scheme

US10539997B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
4References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 2, 2016
Grant dateJan 21, 2020
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 14, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D30/50
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The disclosure generally relates to a memory power reduction scheme that can flexibly transition memory blocks among different power states to reduce power consumption (especially with respect to leakage power) in a manner that balances tradeoffs between reduced power consumption and performance impacts. For example, according to various aspects, individual memory blocks may be associated with an access-dependent age, whereby memory blocks that are not accessed may be periodically aged. As such, in response to the age associated with a memory block crossing an appropriate threshold, the memory block may be transitioned to a power state that generally consumes less leakage power and has a larger performance penalty. Furthermore, one or more performance-related criteria may be defined with certain memory blocks to prevent and/or automatically trigger a transition to another power state.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.