Adaptive Integrated Circuit to Optimize Power and Performance Across Process Variations

摘要

An integrated circuit is disclosed that measures and/or monitors a substrate parameter. An actual value of the substrate parameter can vary from its expected value as a result of characteristics of the integrated circuit and/or characteristics of an environment surrounding the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit classifies the semiconductor substrate upon which it is fabricated as being a fast semiconductor substrate or a slow semiconductor substrate based upon the substrate parameter. The integrated circuit operates in a fast-substrate mode of operation when the semiconductor substrate is classified as being a fast semiconductor substrate to adjust an operational parameter to compensate for the fast semiconductor substrate or in a slow-substrate mode of operation when the semiconductor substrate is classified as being a slow semiconductor substrate to adjust the operational parameter to compensate for the slow semiconductor substrate.

主权项

1. An adaptive integrated circuit, comprising:
a substrate; a process monitor configured to measure a substrate parameter of the substrate; a controller module configured to classify the semiconductor substrate as being a fast semiconductor substrate or a slow semiconductor substrate based upon the substrate parameter; a fast semiconductor substrate module, including a first logic circuit that is formed using high threshold voltage semiconductor devices, configured to be active when the semiconductor substrate is classified as being the fast semiconductor substrate; and a slow semiconductor substrate module, including a second logic circuit that is formed using low threshold voltage semiconductor devices, configured to be active when the semiconductor substrate is classified as being the slow semiconductor substrate.