System and Method for Critical Path Replication
First Claim
1. A circuit comprising:
- at least one functional logic module having at least one functional logic element;
a replica data control module configured to provide a test signal;
at least one replica logic module comprising logic elements, each of the logic elements configured to replicate one or more of the functional logic elements, the logic elements configured to process the test signal and generate a processed signal; and
a replica error detection module configured to analyze the processed signal to determine whether a timing violation has occurred in the replica logic module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a system and method for providing a critical path replica system in a circuit. A critical path replica system is created by determining a critical path in a circuit, generating a critical path replica circuit, generating a circuit blueprint, and creating the blueprinted circuit. The circuit comprises a functional logic module having functional logic elements and replica logic modules having logic elements. Each logic element is configured to replicate one or more of the functional logic elements and process a test signal. A replica error detection module analyzes the processed signal to determine whether a timing violation has occurred. In some embodiments, the replica logic module further comprises one or more load modules. A replica controller may modify operation of the circuit based on reported errors. A replica mode select module sets the replica logic module to an aging test mode or a timing sensor mode.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A circuit comprising:
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at least one functional logic module having at least one functional logic element; a replica data control module configured to provide a test signal; at least one replica logic module comprising logic elements, each of the logic elements configured to replicate one or more of the functional logic elements, the logic elements configured to process the test signal and generate a processed signal; and a replica error detection module configured to analyze the processed signal to determine whether a timing violation has occurred in the replica logic module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A circuit comprising:
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a replica data control module configured to provide a test signal; at least one replica logic module comprising at least one logic element, each logic element configured to replicate one or more functional logic elements in the circuit, the at least one logic element configured to process the test signal and generate a processed signal; a replica error detection module configured to analyze the processed signal and generate an error report; and a replica mode control module configured set the replica logic module to at least an aging test mode and a timing sensor mode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for creating a critical path replica system, comprising:
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determining a critical path in a circuit for replication from an initial netlist; determining critical path cells; generating an updated netlist having critical path replica circuit elements; generating a critical path replica circuit; generating a circuit blueprint representing a circuit having the critical path and the critical path replica circuit; and creating a circuit based on the circuit blueprint. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification