TOGGLING A CLOCKED COMPONENT USING A SLOW CLOCK TO ADDRESS BIAS TEMPERATURE INSTABILITY AGING

摘要

While a clocked component is not idle, the component receives a clock signal that is at a first frequency. When the clocked component is idle, the clock signal is changed to a non-zero second frequency that is less than the first frequency. In effect, clock gating is replaced with clock slowdown.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
a clocked component operable for receiving a clock signal having a frequency; and a controller coupled to the clocked component and having access to information that indicates whether the clocked component is idle, the controller operable for controlling the frequency of the clock signal received by the clocked component; wherein while the clocked component is not idle the clock signal is at a first frequency; wherein further, in response to the controller determining that the clocked component is idle, the clock signal is changed to a non-zero second frequency that is less than the first frequency.