Mixed Signal System Level Cross Layer Adaptation for Variability and Workload: A Pilot Study

Mixed-signal modules are being used extensively in real-time cyber-physical system design. Such real-time systems experience large changes in workload. In addition, due to the use of aggressively scaled silicon technologies, the nominal performances of ICs used in the design can vary significantly from IC to IC and within each IC from one corner of the IC to another. The key hypothesis of this research is that any control law that determines how the system adapts to changes in workload for power consumption, for example, must also take into account the effects of process variability on a per-chip basis. The key ideas are demonstrated using a wireless system with an on-board camera as an example and the possible power savings are highlighted.