Power management of a wireless device

1. A method for power management of a wireless device comprising a processor and a volatile storage device which is connected to and used by the processor, the method comprising:

supplying a first voltage level to the volatile storage device during a period when the processor is in an operating state;

supplying a second voltage level to the volatile storage device for retaining data during a period when the processor is in a reduced power state, wherein the second voltage level is lower than the first voltage level; and

determining a value of the second voltage level by:

(i) supplying an initial value of the second voltage level to the volatile storage device;

(ii) performing a self-test of the volatile storage device while the second voltage level is supplied to the volatile storage device to provide a result indicating a number of data errors in the volatile storage device;

(iii) comparing the result of the self-test with a threshold number of data errors;

(iv) varying the second voltage level to a new value and repeating steps (i)-(iii) with the new value of the second voltage level to find a minimum value of the second voltage level at which the result of the test gives a number of data errors less than the threshold number of data errors.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of determining a value of the second voltage level is performed during an initialisation period of the wireless device.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein at least steps (i)-(iii) are repeated at a later time, wherein the initial value of the second voltage level at step (i) is the value of the second voltage level determined during one of: the initialisation period and a previous repeat of steps (i)-(iii).

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (iv) reduces the second voltage level before a repeat of steps (i)-(iii) and the minimum value of the second voltage level is the last value at which the result of the test gives a number of data errors less than the threshold number of data errors.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (iv) increases the second voltage level before a repeat of steps (i)-(iii) and the minimum value of the second voltage level is the first value at which the result of the test gives a number of data errors less than the threshold number of data errors for operation.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the volatile storage device comprises a plurality of storage banks and the step of determining a value of the second voltage level is performed for at least two of the storage banks to find a minimum value for each of the at least two storage banks.

7. A method according to claim 6 further comprising:

determining a number of the storage banks required;

selecting the storage banks which have the lowest of the minimum values of second voltage level; and

using the selected storage banks.

8. A wireless device comprising:

a processor;

a volatile storage device which is connected to and for use by the processor;

a power management unit arranged to:

supply a first voltage level to the volatile storage device during a period when the processor is in an operating state;

supply a second voltage level to the volatile storage device for retaining data during a period when the processor is in a reduced power state, wherein the second voltage is lower than the first voltage level; and

determine a value of the second voltage level by:

(i) supplying an initial value of the second voltage level to the volatile storage device;

(ii) performing a self-test of the volatile storage device while the second voltage level is supplied to the volatile storage device to provide a result indicating a number of data errors in the volatile storage device;

(iii) comparing the result of the test with a threshold number of data errors;

(iv) varying the second voltage level to a new value and repeating steps (i)-(iii) with the new value of the second voltage level to find a minimum value of the second voltage level at which the result of the test gives a number of data errors less than the threshold number of data errors.

9. A wireless device according to claim 8 , wherein the power management unit is arranged to determine a value of the second voltage level during an initialisation period thereof.

10. A wireless device according to claim 9 wherein the power management unit is arranged to repeat at least steps (i)-(iii) at a later time, wherein the initial value of the second voltage level at step (i) is the value of the second voltage level determined during one of: the initialisation period and a previous repeat of steps (i)-(iii).

11. A wireless device according to claim 8 wherein the power management unit is arranged so that step (iv) reduces the second voltage level before a repeat of steps (i)-(iii) and the minimum value of the second voltage level is the last value at which the result of the test gives a number of data errors less than the threshold number of data errors.

12. A wireless device according to claim 8 wherein the power management unit is arranged so that step (iv) increases the second voltage level before a repeat of steps (i)-(iii) and the minimum value of the second voltage level is the first value at which the result of the test gives a number of data errors less than the threshold number of data errors for operation.

13. A wireless device according to claim 8 wherein the volatile storage device comprises a plurality of storage banks and the step of determining a value of the second voltage level is performed for at least two of the storage banks to find a minimum value for each of the at least two storage banks.

14. A wireless device according to claim 13 , wherein the power management unit is further arranged to:

determine a number of the storage banks required;

select the storage banks which have the lowest of the minimum values of second voltage level; and

use the selected storage banks.

15. A method for determining an optimum voltage value to supply to a volatile storage device, the method comprising:

(i) supplying an initial value of a voltage level to the volatile storage device;

(ii) performing a self-test of the volatile storage device while the voltage level at the initial value is supplied to the volatile storage device to provide a result indicating a number of data errors in the volatile storage device;

(iii) comparing the result of the self-test with a threshold number of data errors;

(iv) varying the voltage level to a new value and repeating steps (i)-(iii) with the new value of the voltage level to find a minimum value of the voltage level at which the result of the test gives a number of data errors less than the threshold number of data errors.