Apple Inc.
Processor energy management system

Abstract:

In some embodiments, a system includes a plurality of processor cores connected to an energy source. The system further includes one or more budget creation circuits configured to determine respective portions of a total credit budget of the energy source. The system further includes a plurality of credit distribution circuits configured to distribute the respective portions of the total credit budget to respective subsets of the processor cores. The credit distribution circuits share energy credits in response to determining that at least some energy credits will be unused. As a result, energy credits are more likely to be used by the processor cores, as compared to a system where the energy credits are not shared.