Processor with low overhead predictive supply voltage gating for leakage power reduction

US7134028B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Pradip Bose · Yorktown Heights, US
• David M. Brooks · Cincinnati, US
• Peter W. Cook · Mount Kisco, US
• Philip G. Emma · Danbury, US
• Michael K. Gschwind · Chappaqua, US
• Stanley E. Schuster · Granite Springs, US
• Vijayalakshmi Srinivasan · New York, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 1, 2003
• Grant date: Nov 7, 2006
• Expiry date: Oct 28, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02D10/00
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An integrated circuit (IC) including unit power control, leakage reduction circuit for controllably reducing leakage power with reduced LdI/dt noise in the IC and, an activity prediction unit invoking active/dormant states in IC units. The prediction unit determines turn on and turn off times for each IC unit. The prediction unit controls a supply voltage select circuit selectively passing a supply voltage to a separate supply line at the predicted turn on time and selectively blocking the supply voltage at the predicted turn off time.