Apparatus and method for controlling supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors includes a signal generator generating an operating frequency and a target operating frequency, a supply voltage generator generating the supply voltage, a plurality of local performance monitors, and a global performance monitor. Each of the plurality of local performance monitors implemented in each different domain is modelled on a relationship between a level of the supplied voltage supplied to each different domain of a predetermined system and an operating speed or the operating frequency of a predetermined circuit implemented in the interior of the domain. The plurality of local performance monitors, respectively, monitors continuously whether the level of the supply voltage supplied to the domain is suitable for the target operating frequency, and outputs a local feedback signal. The global performance monitor generates the global feedback signal based on the local feedback signals of the plurality of local performance monitors, the supply voltage generator adjusts the level of the supply voltage based on the global feedback signal, and the signal generator changes the operating frequency to the target operating frequency when the level of the supply voltage corresponds to the target operating frequency.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be understood in more detail from the following descriptions taken in conjunction wtih the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an apparatus for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a method for arranging the hierarchical performance monitors illustrated in FIGS. 1 or 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an apparatus for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an apparatus for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an arrangement plan for explaining a method for arranging the hierarchical performance monitors according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors comprising: a supply voltage generator generating a supply voltage having an adjustable level;a signal generator generating a target signal having a target frequency;a plurality of local performance monitors, each of the plurality of local performance monitors receiving the target signal having the target frequency and the supply voltage output from the supply voltage generator, monitoring whether a level of the received supply voltage corresponds to the received target frequency based on a predetermined functional relationship between the received target frequency and the received supply voltage, and generating a local feedback signal according to a result of the monitoring; anda global performance monitor receiving the target signal having the target frequency, the supply voltage output from the supply voltage generator, and the local feedback signals output from the plurality of local performance monitors, respectively, monitoring whether the received supply voltage corresponds to the received target frequency based on the received signals, and generating a global feedback signal according to a result of the monitoring,wherein the supply voltage generator controls the level of the supply voltage based on the target signal and the global feedback signal, and outputs the supply voltage having an adjusted level.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined functional relationship is that the level of the supply voltage increases when the target frequency of the target signal increases.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined functional relationship is that the level of the supply voltage decreases when the target frequency of the target signal increases.

4. An apparatus for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors comprising: a supply voltage generator generating a supply voltage having a controllable level;a signal generator generating a first signal having a first frequency and a second signal having a second frequency;a plurality of local performance monitors, each of the plurality of local performance monitors receiving the second signal having the second frequency and the supply voltage output from the supply voltage generator, monitoring whether a level of the received supply voltage corresponds to the received second frequency based on a predetermined functional relationship between the received second frequency and the received supply voltage, and generating a local feedback signal according to a result of the monitoring; anda global performance monitor receiving the second signal having the second frequency, the supply voltage output from the supply voltage generator, and the local feedback signals output from the plurality of the local performance monitors, respectively, monitoring whether the received supply voltage corresponds to the received second frequency based on the received signals, and generating a global feedback signal according to a result of the monitoring,wherein the supply voltage generator controls a level of the supply voltage based on the second signal having the second frequency and the global feedback signal, and generates an indicating signal based on a controlled level of the supply voltage, andwherein the signal generator generates the first signal having one of the first frequency and the second frequency based on the indicating signal output from the supply voltage generator.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of local monitors is implemented in each different domain within the apparatus for controlling the supply voltage using the hierarchical performance monitors.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the apparatus is implemented as a system on chip SOC.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the predetermined functional relationship is that the level of the supply voltage increases when the second frequency increases.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the predetermined functional relationship is that the level of the supply voltage decreases when the second frequency increases.

9. An apparatus for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors comprising: a supply voltage generator generating a plurality of supply voltages having different voltage levels, respectively;a signal generator generating a plurality of target signals having different target frequencies, respectively;a plurality of local performance monitors; anda global performance monitor,wherein each of the plurality of local performance monitors receives a corresponding target signal from among the plurality of target signals and corresponding supply voltage from among the plurality of supply voltages, monitors whether a level of the received supply voltage corresponds to the target frequency of the received target signal based on a predetermined functional relationship between the target frequency of the received target signal and the received supply voltage, and outputs a local feedback signal according to a result of the monitoring,wherein the global performance monitor receives a corresponding target signal from among the plurality of the target signals, a corresponding supply voltage from among the plurality of supply voltages, and the local feedback signals output from among the plurality of local performance monitors, monitors whether levels of the supply voltages of the plurality of local performance monitors, respectively, and the level of the the supply voltage supplied to the global performance monitor corresponds to the target frequencies of the target signals supplied to the plurality of local performance monitors, respectively, and the target frequency of the target signal supplied to the global performance monitor based on the received signals, and generates a plurality of global feedback signals according to a result of the monitoring, andwherein the supply voltage generator receives the plurality of target signals and the plurality of global feedback signals output from the global performace monitor, controls each level of the plurality of supply voltages based on the received signals, and outputs the plurality of level-controlled supply voltages, respectively.

10. An apparatus for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors comprising: a supply voltage generator generating a plurality of supply voltages having different voltage levels, respectively,a signal generator generating a plurality of system signals having different system frequencies and a plurality of target signals having different targetfrequencies, respectively;a plurality of local performance monitors; anda global performance monitor,wherein each of the plurality of local performance monitors receives a corresponding target signal from among the plurality of target signals and a corresponding supply voltage from among the plurality of supply voltages, monitors whether a level of the received supply voltage corresponds to the target frequency of the received target signal based on a predetermined functional relationship between the frequency of the received target signal and the received supply voltage, and outputs a local feedback signal according to a result of the monitoring,wherein the global performance monitor receives a corresponding target signal from among the plurality of target signals, a corresponding supply voltage from among the plurality of supply voltages, and the local feedback signals output from among the plurality of local performance monitors, monitors whether levels of the supply voltages of the plurality of local performance monitors, respectively, and the level of the the supply voltage supplied to the global performance monitor corresponds to the target frequencies of the target signals supplied to the plurality of local performance monitors, respectively, and the target frequency of the target signal supplied to the global performance monitor based on the received signals, and generates a plurality of global feedback signals according to a result of the monitoring,wherein the supply voltage generator receives the plurality of target signals and the plurality of global feedback signals output from the global performace monitors, controls each level of the plurality of supply voltages based on the received signals, generates a plurality of indicating signals based on the plurality of level-controlled supply voltages, respectively, andwherein the signal generator changes a system frequency of at least one system signal among a plurality of system signals to a target frequency of at least one target signal among the plurality of target signals based on each of the plurality of indicating signals output from the supply voltage generator.

11. A system having a plurality of semiconductor apparatuses including respectively a corresponding local performance monitor, the system comprising: a supply voltage generator generating a plurality of supply voltages having different voltage levels, respectively;a signal generator generating a plurality of target siganls having different target frequencies, respectively; anda global performance monitor,wherein each local performance monitor implemented in the plurality of semicondcutor apparatus receives a corresponding target signal from among the plurality of target signals and a corresponding supply voltage from among the plurality of supply voltages, monitors whether a level of the received supply voltage corresponds to the target frequency of the received target signal based on a predetermined functional relationship between the target frequency of the received target signal and the received supply voltage, and outputs a local feedback signal according to a result of the monitoring,wherein the global performance monitor receives a corresponding target signal from among the plurality of target signals, a corresponding supply voltage from among the plurality of supply voltages, and the local feedback signals output from the plurality of local performance monitors implemented in the plurality of semiconductor apparatus, respectively, monitors whether levels of the supply voltages supplied to the plurality of semiconductors, respectively, and the level of the the supply voltage supplied to the global performance monitor corresponds to the target frequencies supplied to the plurality of semiconductors, respectively, and the target frequency of the target signal supplied to the global performance monitor based on the received signals, and generates a plurality of global feedback signals according to a result of the monitoring, andwherein the supply voltage generator receives the plurality of target signals and the plurality of global feedback signals output from the global performace monitor, controls each level of the supply voltages supplied to the plurality of semiconductor apparatus, respectively, based on the received signals, and outputs the plurality of level-controlled supply voltages respectively.

12. A system having a plurality of semiconductor apparatuses including a plurality of corresponding local performance monitors, respectively, comprising: a supply voltage generator generating a plurality of supply voltages having different voltage levels, respectively;a signal generator generating a plurality of system signals having different system frequencies and a plurality of target signals havng different target frequencies, respectively; anda global performance monitor,wherein a corresponding local performance monitor receives a corresponding target signal from among the plurality of target signals and a corresponding supply voltage from among the plurality of supply voltages, monitors whether a level of the received supply voltage corresponds to the target frequency of the received target signal based on predetermined a functional relationship between the target frequency of the received target signal and the received supply voltage, and outputs a local feedback signal according to a result of the monitoring,wherein the global performance monitor receives a corresponding target signal from among the plurality of target signals, a corresponding supply voltage from among the plurality of supply voltages, and local feedback signals output from the local performance monitors implemented in each of the plurality of semicondcutor apparatuses, respectively, monitors whether levels supplied to the plurality of semiconductor apparatuses, respectively, and the level of the supply voltage supplied to global performance monitor corresponds to target frequencies supplied to the semiconductor apparatus and the target frequency supplied to the global performance monitor based on the received signals, and generates a plurality of the global feedback signals according to a result of the monitoring,wherein the supply voltage generator receives the plurality of target signals and the plurality of global feedback signals output from the global performace monitor, controls levels of the plurality of the supply voltages supplied to the plurality of semiconductor apparatuses, respectively, based on the received signals, and outputs a plurality of indicating signals based on the plurality of the level-controlled supply voltages, respectively, andwherein the signal generator changes a system frequency of at least one system signal from among the plurality of system signals to a target frequency of at least one target signal from among the plurality of target signals based on each of the plurality of indicating signals output from the supply voltage generator.

13. A method for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors comprising: generating a supply voltage having an adjustable level;generating a target signal having a target frequency;each of a plurality of local monitors receiving the target signal having the target frequency and the supply voltage, monitoring whether a level of the supply voltage corresponds to the target frequency based on a predetermined functional relationship between the target frequency and the supply voltage, and outputting a local feedback signal;a global performance monitor receiving the target signal having the target frequency, the supply voltage, and the local feedback signals output from the plurality of the local performance monitors, respectively, monitoring whether a level of the supply voltage corresponds to the target frequency based on the received signals, and generating a global feedback signal according to a result of the monitoring; andadjusting the level of the supply voltage based on the target signal having the target frequency and the global feedback signal, and outputting the level-adjusted supply voltage.

14. A method for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors comprising: generating a supply voltage having an adjustable level;generating a first signal having a first frequency and a second signal having a second frequency;each of a plurality of local monitors receiving the second signal having the second frequency and the supply voltage, monitoring whether a level of the supply voltage corresponds to the second frequency based on a predetermined functional relationship between the second frequency and the supply voltage, and generating a local feedback signal according to a result of the monitoring;a global performance monitor receiving the second signal having the second frequency, the supply voltage, and the local feedback signals output from the plurality of the local performance monitors, respectively, monitoring whether a level of the supply voltage corresponds to the second frequency based on the received signals, and generating a global feedback signal according to a result of the monitoring;adjusting the level of the supply voltage based on the second signal having the second frequency and the global feedback signal, and generating an indicating signal based on the adjusted level of the supply voltage; andgenerating the first signal having the first or the second frequency based on the indicating signal.

15. An apparatus for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors comprising: a supply voltage generator generating a plurality of supply voltages each having a different voltage level, respectively;a signal generator generating a plurality of target signals having a different target frequency, respectively;each of a plurality of local performance monitors receiving a corresponding target signal from among the plurality of target signals and a corresponding supply voltage from among the plurality of supply voltages, monitoring whether a level of the received supply voltage corresponds to the target frequency of the received target signal based on a predetermined functional relationship between the target frequency of the received target signal and the received supply voltage, and outputting a local feedback signal according to a result of the monitoring; anda global performance monitor receiving a corresponding target signal from among the plurality of target signals, a corresponding supply voltage from among the plurality of supply voltages, and the local feedback signals output from the plurality of local performance monitors, respectively, monitoring whether each level of the supply voltages supplied to the plurality of local performance monitors and the level of the supply voltage supplied to the global performance monitor correspond to each of the target frequencies of the target signals supplied to the plurality of local performance monitors and the target frequency of the target signal supplied to global performance monitor based on the received signals, and generating a plurality of global feedback signals according to a result of the monitoring,wherein the supply voltage generator receives the plurality of target signals and the plurality of global feedback signals output from the global performance monitor, adjusts each level of the plurality of the supply voltages based on the received signals, and outputs the plurality of supply voltages the level-adjusted, respectively.

16. An apparatus for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors comprising:. a supply voltage generator generating a plurality of the supply voltages each having a different voltage level;a signal generator generating a plurality of system signals each having a different system frequency and a plurality of target signals each having a different target frequency;each of plurality of local performance monitors receiving a corresponding target signal from among the plurality of the target signals and a corresponding supply voltage from among the plurality of supply voltages, monitoring whether a level of the received supply voltage corresponds to the target frequency of the received target signal based on a predetermined functional relationship between the frequency of the received target signal and the received supply voltage, and outputs a local feedback signal according to a result of the monitoring;a global performance monitor receiving a corresponding target signal from among the plurality of target signals, a corresponding supply voltage from among the plurality of supply voltages, and the local feedback signals output from the plurality of local performance monitors, respectively, monitoring whether levels of the plurality of supply voltages supplied to the plurality of the local performance monitors and the level of the supply voltage supplied to the global performance monitor, respectively, correspond to each of the target frequencies of the target signals supplied to the plurality of local performance monitors and the target frequency of the target signal supplied to the global performance monitor based on the received signals, and generating a plurality of global feedback signals according to a result of the monitoring, the supply voltage generator receiving the plurality of target signals and the plurality of global feedback signals output from the global performance monitor, adjusting each level of the plurality of the supply voltages based on the received signals, and outputting a corresponding indicating signal based on each of the plurality of supply voltages which are level-adjusted; andthe signal generator changing a system frequency of at least one system signal from among the plurality of system signals into a target frequency of at least one target signal from among the plurality of target signals based on each of the plurality of indicating signals output from the supply voltage generator.

17. A method for controlling a supply voltage using hierarchical performance monitors comprising: each of a plurality of local performance monitors monitoring whether a level of a input supply voltage corresponds to a frequency of an input target signal based on a predetermined functional relationship between the input supply voltage and the frequency of the input target signal, and generating a local feedback signal corresponding to a result of the monitoring;each of a plurality of global performance monitors of a first stage receiving an input supply voltage, a target frequency of an input target signal, and a local feedback signal output from at least one of the plurality of local performance monitors, monitoring whether a level of the input supply voltage corresponds to the target frequency of the input target signal based on the received signals, and generating a first global feedback signal corresponding to a result of the monitoring;each of the plurality of global performance monitors of a second stage receiving an input supply voltage, a target frequency of the input target signal, and a local feedback signal output from at least one of the plurality of local performance monitors of a first stage, monitoring whether the level of the input supply voltage corresponds to the target frequency of the input target signal based on the received signals, and generating a second global feedback signal corresponding to a result of the monitoring; andreceiving an input supply voltage, a target frequency of a input target signal, and a second global feedback signal output from at least one of the global performance monitors of a second stage, adjusting the level of the supply voltage supplied to each of the plurality of local perforamnce monitors, each of the plurality of the global performance monitors of the first stage, and each of the plurality of the global performance monitors of the second stage based on the received signals, respectively, and outputting the level-adjusted supply voltage.