Patent · US Active

Apparatus and method to adjust power and performance of integrated circuits

US9824773B1 · kind B1 · utility

2Cited by
6References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 13, 2011
Grant dateNov 21, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 17, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The voltage applied to an integrated circuit is scaled so as to account for variations in the manufacturing processes, temperature, and the like, and to allow for power/performance optimization of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may characterized during a manufacturing test or anytime thereafter. The characterization data, which reflects the performance and power consumption of the integrated circuit, is used to determine an associated processing/speed bin, which in turn, defines the voltage that will be applied to the integrated circuit during normal operation. Optionally, a number of different supply voltages are applied to different circuit blocks disposed in the same integrated circuit. Each such circuit block may have a different characterization data associated with a different supply voltage.

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