METHODS AND CIRCUITS FOR DYNAMICALLY ADJUSTING A SUPPLY VOLTAGE AND/OR A FREQUENCY OF A CLOCK SIGNAL IN A DIGITAL CIRCUIT

摘要

A method and circuit (200, 300) for dynamically adjusting the supply voltage (Vdd) in a digital circuit (204, 404) determines the propagation delay (tpd) of a signal along a signal path (222, 310) in the digital circuit and adjusts the supply voltage so that the determined propagation delay equals a predetermined period, such as the clock period of the clock signal (CLK) which clocks the digital circuit. When the determined propagation delay equals the predetermined period, the adjusted supply voltage is applied to the digital circuit (204, 404). This technique can be used to optimise power consumption and processing capability.