Apple patents chip design that cuts power to idle data paths
Apple describes a computer system where a transponder subsystem monitors data traffic between different parts of a chip. It turns off unused connections to save energy and turns them back on only when data needs to flow.
In the filing’s own words
A computer system that includes a plurality of agent circuits and a network circuit configured to convey information between the agent circuits. The network circuit includes a plurality of network circuit elements coupled via a plurality of links to define a network topology having respective network paths between pairs of the plurality of agent circuits and a transponder subsystem. The transponder subsystem is configured to deactivate links of the plurality of links based on determinations of network inactivity for network paths that utilize those links, and activate deactivated links in a particular network path based on an indication of network activity for a first pair of agent circuits that utilize the particular network path. The computer system is configured to reduce power to links that have been deactivated.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An apparatus, comprising: a computer system formed on one or more co-packaged integrated circuits, the computer system including: a plurality of agent circuits; a network circuit configured to convey information between various ones of the plurality of agent circuits, wherein the network circuit includes: a plurality of network circuit elements coupled via a plurality of links to define a network topology having respective network paths between pairs of the plurality of agent circuits; and a transponder subsystem configured to: deactivate links of the plurality of links based on determinations of network inactivity for network paths that utilize those links; and activate deactivated links in a particular network path based on an indication of network activity for a first pair of agent circuits that utilize the particular network path; and wherein the computer system is configured to reduce power to links that have been deactivated.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Transponder Subsystem for Power Management
- Publication number
- US20260299664A1
- Application number
- 19314630
- Filed
- Aug 29, 2025
- Published
- Oct 1, 2026
- Inventors
- 5
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 1/3209 Physics & computingMore from Apple in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.