Patent · US Active

Process corner detection circuit based on self-timing oscillation ring

US10422830B2 · kind B2 · utility

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2References
4Claims
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Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 26, 2014
Grant dateSep 24, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 20, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K3/0315
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A process corner detection circuit based on a self-timing ring oscillator comprises a reset circuit (1), the self-timing oscillation ring (2), and a counting module (3). The self-timing ring oscillator (2) consists of m two-input Muller C-elements and inverters, and a two-input AND gate, m being a positive integer greater than or equal to 3. The circuit can be used for detecting a process corner of a fabricated integrated circuit chip, and reflecting the process corner of the chip according to the number of oscillations of the self-timing ring oscillator (2). The number of oscillations of the self-timing ring oscillator (2) in different process corners is acquired by Hspice simulation before the chip tape-out, and the process corner of the chip after the chip tape-out can be determined according to the actually measured number of oscillations.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.