Apparatus and method for determining variation in a predetermined physical property of a circuit
US8779787B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 9, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R29/027
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus and method for determining variation in a predetermined physical property of a circuit. The apparatus includes monitored circuitry for generating output pulses, and configured such that each output pulse has a pulse width which is indicative of the current value of the predetermined physical property. Circuitry is then configured to receive both the output pulses generated by the monitored circuitry and an oscillating timing reference signal. With reference to the oscillating timing reference signal, the counter circuitry produces for each output pulse an associated count value indicative of the pulse width of that output pulse. Circuitry then compares the associated count values for at least two output pulses, in order to produce a comparison result used to determine the variation in the predetermined physical property. This provides a flexible mechanism for monitoring variations in a physical property on the fly during use of a data processing circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.