Patent · US Active

Variability and aging sensor for integrated circuits

US9035706B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
7References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 16, 2014
Grant dateMay 19, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 16, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R31/31725
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A ring-oscillator-based on-chip sensor (OCS) includes a substrate having a semiconductor surface upon which the OCS is formed. The OCS includes an odd number of digital logic stages formed in and on the semiconductor surface including a first stage and a last stage each including at least one NOR gate including a first gate stack and/or a NAND gate including a second gate stack. A feedback connection is from an output of the last stage to an input of the first stage. At least one discharge path including at least a first p-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (PMOS) device is coupled between the first gate stack and a ground pad, and/or at least one charge path including at least a first n-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (NMOS) device is coupled between the second gate stack a power supply pad.

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