Automated detection of and compensation for guardband degradation during operation of clocked data processing circuit

摘要

An automated guardband compensation system automatically compensates for degradation in the guardband of a clocked data processing circuit while that circuit is connected within a data processing system. A control circuit automatically and repeatedly requests: a switching circuit to switch a critical path within the clocked data processing circuit out of a data processing pathway within the data processing system while the clocked data processing circuit is connected within the data processing system; a guardband test circuit to test the guardband of the critical path while the critical path is switched out of the data processing pathway; a guardband compensation circuit to increase the guardband when the results of the test indicate a material degradation in the guardband; and a switching circuit to switch the critical path back into the data processing pathway after the test.