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Graceful performance modulation for power-neutral transient computing systems

Graceful performance modulation for power-neutral transient computing systems
Graceful performance modulation for power-neutral transient computing systems
Transient computing systems do not have energy storage, and operate directly from energy harvesting. These systems are often faced with the inherent challenge of low-current or transient power supply. In this paper, we propose “power-neutral” operation, a new paradigm for such systems, whereby the instantaneous power consumption of the system must match the instantaneous harvested power. Power neutrality is achieved using a control algorithm for dynamic frequency scaling (DFS), modulating system performance gracefully in response to the incoming power. Detailed system model is used to determine design parameters for selecting the system voltage thresholds where the operating frequency will be raised or lowered, or the system will be hibernated. The proposed control algorithm for power-neutral operation is experimentally validated using a microcontroller incorporating voltage threshold-based interrupts for frequency scaling. The microcontroller is powered directly from real energy harvesters; results demonstrate that a power-neutral system sustains operation for 4–88% longer with up to 21% speedup in application execution.
738-749
Balsamo, Domenico
fa2dc20a-e3da-4d74-9070-9c61c6a471ba
Das, Anup
2a0d6cea-309b-4053-a62e-234807f89306
Weddell, Alex
3d8c4d63-19b1-4072-a779-84d487fd6f03
Brunelli, Davide
0919a9ce-d340-4d61-ac77-94078f4d5e89
Al-Hashimi, Bashir M.
0b29c671-a6d2-459c-af68-c4614dce3b5d
Merrett, Geoff V.
89b3a696-41de-44c3-89aa-b0aa29f54020
Benini, Luca
158d569b-b7d4-4d91-9935-4267ea8fd494
Balsamo, Domenico
fa2dc20a-e3da-4d74-9070-9c61c6a471ba
Das, Anup
2a0d6cea-309b-4053-a62e-234807f89306
Weddell, Alex
3d8c4d63-19b1-4072-a779-84d487fd6f03
Brunelli, Davide
0919a9ce-d340-4d61-ac77-94078f4d5e89
Al-Hashimi, Bashir M.
0b29c671-a6d2-459c-af68-c4614dce3b5d
Merrett, Geoff V.
89b3a696-41de-44c3-89aa-b0aa29f54020
Benini, Luca
158d569b-b7d4-4d91-9935-4267ea8fd494

Balsamo, Domenico, Das, Anup, Weddell, Alex, Brunelli, Davide, Al-Hashimi, Bashir M., Merrett, Geoff V. and Benini, Luca (2016) Graceful performance modulation for power-neutral transient computing systems. IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, 35 (5), 738-749, [7403941]. (doi:10.1109/TCAD.2016.2527713).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Transient computing systems do not have energy storage, and operate directly from energy harvesting. These systems are often faced with the inherent challenge of low-current or transient power supply. In this paper, we propose “power-neutral” operation, a new paradigm for such systems, whereby the instantaneous power consumption of the system must match the instantaneous harvested power. Power neutrality is achieved using a control algorithm for dynamic frequency scaling (DFS), modulating system performance gracefully in response to the incoming power. Detailed system model is used to determine design parameters for selecting the system voltage thresholds where the operating frequency will be raised or lowered, or the system will be hibernated. The proposed control algorithm for power-neutral operation is experimentally validated using a microcontroller incorporating voltage threshold-based interrupts for frequency scaling. The microcontroller is powered directly from real energy harvesters; results demonstrate that a power-neutral system sustains operation for 4–88% longer with up to 21% speedup in application execution.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 15 January 2016
e-pub ahead of print date: 11 February 2016
Published date: May 2016
Organisations: Electronic & Software Systems, EEE

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 386635
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/386635
PURE UUID: e863146c-d85e-4493-97a3-024d36acfc7d
ORCID for Alex Weddell: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6763-5460
ORCID for Geoff V. Merrett: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4980-3894

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 29 Jan 2016 12:06
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:25

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Contributors

Author: Domenico Balsamo
Author: Anup Das
Author: Alex Weddell ORCID iD
Author: Davide Brunelli
Author: Bashir M. Al-Hashimi
Author: Geoff V. Merrett ORCID iD
Author: Luca Benini

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