Preemptive Processor Power Supply Regulator Feedback Modulation to Mitigate Voltage Overshoot and Undershoot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024176406-A1
Application number	US-202318524991-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 30, 2023
Priority date	Nov 30, 2022
Publication date	May 30, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

Compilers for some processor architectures, in particular, deterministic processors, can predict exact processor current demands for a time period as brief as a few nanoseconds. Information generated by such compilers of future excessive current demand is used by the embodiments disclosed herein for predictive mitigation of voltage overshoot and undershoot. This Abstract and the independent Claims are concise signifiers of embodiments of the claimed inventions. The Abstract does not limit the scope of the claimed inventions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A more efficient/useful electronic structure for a tensor processor, comprising: a compiler for generating information about power requirements during execution of an algorithm, and a specific timing of these power requirements, for the algorithm to be executed on a processor, the information generated before the execution of the algorithm and a power supply adapted to control voltage droops and overshoots in response to the information communicated from the compiler to the tensor processor and supplied to the tensor processor during the execution of the algorithm.

2 . A method for operating processors, comprising: a processor enabled to control power-supply voltage and current levels during execution of an algorithm to minimize voltage droop based on information produced by a compiler for the algorithm.

3 . A method for operating a tensor processor, comprising: during compilation of an algorithm, determining stages of the algorithm where voltage droop will occur, and providing information and instructions to a power controller to adjust a power supply before voltage droop occurs when the tensor processor is executing the algorithm.

4 . A method for generating a sequence of voltage and current levels to be applied to a voltage regulator when operating a processor that is executing an algorithm, an applied voltage and current levels minimizing voltage droop.

Assignees

• Groq Inc

Inventors

• Heyfitch Vadim
• Yukelson Michael
• Arsovski Igor
• Sproch James David

Classifications

• G06F1/3206 Primary

  Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality · CPC title

• G06F1/3243

  Power saving in microcontroller unit · CPC title

• G06F9/30083

  Power or thermal control instructions · CPC title

• G06F1/3296 Primary

  by lowering the supply or operating voltage · CPC title