Dynamic control of SIMDs
US9311102B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 12, 2011 |
| Grant date | Apr 12, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 12, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D10/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems and methods to improve performance in a graphics processing unit are described herein. Embodiments achieve power saving in a graphics processing unit by dynamically activating/deactivating individual SIMDs in a shader complex that comprises multiple SIMD units. On-the-fly dynamic disabling and enabling of individual SIMDs provides flexibility in achieving a required performance and power level for a given processing application. Embodiments of the invention also achieve dynamic medium grain clock gating of SIMDs in a shader complex. Embodiments reduce switching power by shutting down clock trees to unused logic by providing a clock on demand mechanism. In this way, embodiments enhance clock gating to save more switching power for the duration of time when SIMDs are idle (or assigned no work). Embodiments can also save leakage power by power gating SIMDs for a duration when SIMDs are idle for an extended period of time.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.