Method and apparatus for characterizing switching history impact
First Claim
1. Apparatus for characterizing a change in delay induced by a switching history of a circuit, the apparatus comprising:
- a pulse generator configurable for generating a signal having a pulse width that is selectively adjustable, the signal having a first edge and a second edge associated therewith, the first and second edges being opposite in polarity with respect to one another;
a first delay circuit coupled to the pulse generator, the first delay circuit being configurable for receiving the signal from the pulse generator and generating an output signal at an output of the first delay circuit, the first delay circuit having a first switch delay characteristic of the first edge of the received signal and a second switch delay characteristic of the second edge of the received signal, wherein the pulse width of the signal generated by the pulse generator is less than the first switch delay associated with the first delay circuit; and
a controller, operative to;
(i) vary the pulse width of the signal generated by the pulse generator;
(ii) monitor the output signal;
(iii) determine a value of the pulse width that defines a boundary of when the output signal is present and when the output signal is not present; and
(iv) determine a ratio of the value of the pulse width that defines the boundary to at least one of the first switch delay and the second switch delay, whereby the change in delay induced by the switching history of the circuit to be characterized is a function of the ratio.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for characterizing a change in delay induced by a switching history of a circuit includes the steps of generating a first signal having a pulse width that is selectively adjustable, the first signal having a first edge and a second edge associated therewith, the first and second edges being opposite in polarity with respect to one another; generating a second signal having a first switch delay characteristic of the first edge of the first signal and a second switch delay characteristic of the second edge of the first signal, wherein the pulse width of the first signal is less than the first switch delay associated with the second signal; varying the pulse width of the first signal; monitoring the second signal; determining a value of the pulse width that defines a boundary of when the second signal is present and when the second signal is not present; and determining a ratio of the value of the pulse width that defines the boundary to the first switch delay and/or the second switch delay, whereby the change in delay induced by the switching history of the circuit to be characterized is a function of the ratio.
32 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for characterizing a change in delay induced by a switching history of a circuit, the apparatus comprising:
-
a pulse generator configurable for generating a signal having a pulse width that is selectively adjustable, the signal having a first edge and a second edge associated therewith, the first and second edges being opposite in polarity with respect to one another;
a first delay circuit coupled to the pulse generator, the first delay circuit being configurable for receiving the signal from the pulse generator and generating an output signal at an output of the first delay circuit, the first delay circuit having a first switch delay characteristic of the first edge of the received signal and a second switch delay characteristic of the second edge of the received signal, wherein the pulse width of the signal generated by the pulse generator is less than the first switch delay associated with the first delay circuit; and
a controller, operative to;
(i) vary the pulse width of the signal generated by the pulse generator;
(ii) monitor the output signal;
(iii) determine a value of the pulse width that defines a boundary of when the output signal is present and when the output signal is not present; and
(iv) determine a ratio of the value of the pulse width that defines the boundary to at least one of the first switch delay and the second switch delay, whereby the change in delay induced by the switching history of the circuit to be characterized is a function of the ratio.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A semiconductor device including at least one apparatus for characterizing a change in delay induced by a switching history of a circuit, the at least one apparatus comprising:
-
a pulse generator configurable for generating a signal having a pulse width that is selectively adjustable, the signal having a first edge and a second edge associated therewith, the first and second edges being opposite in polarity with respect to one another;
a first delay circuit coupled to the pulse generator, the first delay circuit being configurable for receiving the signal from the pulse generator and generating an output signal at an output of the first delay circuit, the first delay circuit having a first switch delay characteristic of the first edge of the received signal and a second switch delay characteristic of the second edge of the received signal, wherein the pulse width of the signal generated by the pulse generator is less than the first switch delay associated with the first delay circuit; and
a controller, operative to;
(i) vary the pulse width of the signal generated by the pulse generator;
(ii) monitor the output signal;
(iii) determine a value of the pulse width that defines a boundary of when the output signal is present and when the output signal is not present; and
(iv) determine a ratio of the value of the pulse width that defines the boundary to at least one of the first switch delay and the second switch delay, whereby the change in delay induced by the switching history of the circuit to be characterized is a function of the ratio.- View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A method for characterizing a change in delay induced by a switching history of a circuit, the method comprising the steps of:
-
generating a first signal having a pulse width that is selectively adjustable, the first signal having a first edge and a second edge associated therewith, the first and second edges being opposite in polarity with respect to one another;
generating a second signal having a first switch delay characteristic of the first edge of the first signal and a second switch delay characteristic of the second edge of the first signal, wherein the pulse width of the first signal is less than the first switch delay associated with the second signal;
varying the pulse width of the first signal;
monitoring the second signal;
determining a value of the pulse width that defines a boundary of when the second signal is present and when the second signal is not present; and
determining a ratio of the value of the pulse width that defines the boundary to at least one of the first switch delay and the second switch delay, whereby the change in delay induced by the switching history of the circuit to be characterized is a function of the ratio.
-
Specification