Patent · US Active

Power control for cache structures

US9317102B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
6References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 3, 2013
Grant dateApr 19, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 21, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed relating to reducing power consumption in integrated circuits. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a cache having a set of tag structures and a power management unit. The power management unit is configured to power down a duplicate set of tag structures in responsive to the cache being powered down. In one embodiment, the cache is configured to provide, to the power management unit, an indication of whether the cache includes valid data. In such an embodiment, the power management unit is configured to power down the cache in response to the cache indicating that the cache does not include valid data. In some embodiments, the duplicate set of tag structures is located within a coherence point configured to maintain coherency between the cache and a memory.

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