Apple patents chip design that turns off unused data paths to save power
Apple has filed a patent for a computer system where multiple control units manage the flow of data between different parts of a chip. These units can turn off specific data connections when they are not being used and turn them back on when needed, which reduces the overall power consumption of the system.
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, which has multiple central transponder circuits. A given central transponder circuit 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 multiple central transponder circuits include central transponder circuits configured to manage activation and deactivation of links in different portions of the network circuit, including on multiple dies.
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 including multiple central transponder circuits configured to: deactivate links of the plurality of links based on determinations of network inactivity for agent circuits 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; wherein the multiple central transponder circuits include a first central transponder circuit configured to manage activation and deactivation of links in a first portion of the network circuit, and a second central transponder circuit configured to manage activation and deactivation of links in a second, different portion of the network circuit; and wherein the computer system is configured to reduce power to links that have been deactivated.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Subsystem for Power Management with Multiple Central Transponders
- Publication number
- US20260299670A1
- Application number
- 19314751
- Filed
- Aug 29, 2025
- Published
- Oct 1, 2026
- Inventors
- 5
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 1/3287 Physics & computingG06F 21/85 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.