Integrated circuit with dynamically controlled voltage supply
US7519925B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 27, 2005 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 27, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F30/36
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electronic system (10). The system comprises circuitry (P1) for receiving a system voltage from a voltage supply. The system also comprises circuitry (141), responsive to the system voltage, for providing data processing functionality. The circuitry for providing data processing functionality comprises a critical path (CP1) and the critical path comprises a plurality of transistors. At least some transistors in the plurality of transistors have a corresponding predetermined voltage operating limit corresponding to a predicted lifespan. The system also comprises circuitry (221) for indicating a potential capability of operational speed of the critical path. The system also comprises circuitry (CB) for coupling the system voltage to the critical path. Lastly, the system also comprises circuitry (26) for adjusting the system voltage, as provided by the voltage supply, in response to the circuitry for indicating a potential capability. In selected instances, the circuitry for adjusting adjusts the voltage supplied by the voltage supply to be a voltage greater than the predetermined voltage operating limit while still complying with the predicted lifespan.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.