VDD over and undervoltage measurement techniques using monitor cells
First Claim
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1. A method for testing an integrated circuit chip comprising:
- a) applying a first reference voltage to a first input of a first monitor cell of at least one monitor cell integrated on the chip, wherein each of the monitor cells comprises a comparator and a latch coupled to the output of the comparator;
b) applying a first test voltage from a selected portion of the chip to a second input of the first monitor cell;
c) comparing the first reference voltage to the first test voltage using the comparator for providing a first result for storage in the latch of the first monitor cell;
d) applying a second reference voltage having a value different from the first reference voltage to the first input of the first monitor cell;
e) comparing the second reference voltage to the first test voltage using the comparator for providing a second result in the latch of the first monitor cell; and
f) analyzing the first and second results to determine a value for the first test voltage.
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Abstract
According to one embodiment, a method of testing an integrated circuit is provided. A reference voltage is coupled to each of a first and second comparator integrated on the chip. A supply voltage is compared to the reference voltage in a comparator to determine overvoltage or undervoltage conditions. The results of the comparison are stored and sizing and placing of at least one decoupling circuit in the circuit design is made based on the stored determinations.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for testing an integrated circuit chip comprising:
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a) applying a first reference voltage to a first input of a first monitor cell of at least one monitor cell integrated on the chip, wherein each of the monitor cells comprises a comparator and a latch coupled to the output of the comparator; b) applying a first test voltage from a selected portion of the chip to a second input of the first monitor cell; c) comparing the first reference voltage to the first test voltage using the comparator for providing a first result for storage in the latch of the first monitor cell; d) applying a second reference voltage having a value different from the first reference voltage to the first input of the first monitor cell; e) comparing the second reference voltage to the first test voltage using the comparator for providing a second result in the latch of the first monitor cell; and f) analyzing the first and second results to determine a value for the first test voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of testing an integrated circuit comprising:
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a) providing an overvoltage reference voltage and supply voltage to a first voltage comparator; b) providing an undervoltage reference voltage and the supply voltage to a second digital comparator; c) making a first determination for the first voltage comparator whether the overvoltage reference voltage exceeds the supply voltage; d) making a second determination for the second comparator whether the supply voltage exceeds the undervoltage reference voltage; and e) storing the first and second determinations in a first and a second latch attached respectively to the first and second comparators. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An integrated circuit adapted for voltage level detection, the integrated circuit comprising:
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a plurality of voltage supply conductors configured for providing a power supply voltage to the integrated circuit; and a monitor cell integrated in the integrated circuit for testing over and under voltage conditions, the monitor cell comprising a first digital voltage comparator and a second digital voltage comparator each of the comparators coupled respectively to an associated latch for receiving the output of the voltage comparator, wherein; inputs to the first comparator comprise a supply voltage from one of the plurality of supply conductors and an overvoltage reference voltage; inputs to the second comparator comprise the supply voltage from the one of the plurality of supply conductors and an undervoltage reference voltage; and wherein the monitor cell is further configured to receive at an input of the first comparator and at an input of the second comparator a reference voltage provided by one of the plurality of voltage supply conductors for comparison with the supply voltage.
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19. An integrated circuit adapted for voltage level detection, the integrated circuit comprising:
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a plurality of voltage supply conductors configured for providing a power supply voltage to the integrated circuit; and a monitor cell integrated in the integrated circuit for testing over and under voltage conditions, the monitor cell comprising a first digital voltage comparator and a second digital voltage comparator each of the comparators coupled respectively to an associated latch for receiving the output of the voltage comparator, wherein; inputs to the first comparator comprise a supply voltage from one of the plurality of supply conductors and an overvoltage reference voltage; inputs to the second comparator comprise the supply voltage from the one of the plurality of supply conductors and an undervoltage reference voltage; and wherein the monitor cell is configured to receive a reference voltage from automated test equipment and to transmit outputs of the associated latches to the automated test equipment.
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20. An integrated circuit adapted for voltage level detection, the integrated circuit comprising:
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a plurality of voltage supply conductors configured for providing a power supply voltage to the integrated circuit; and a monitor cell integrated in the integrated circuit for testing over and under voltage conditions, the monitor cell comprising a first digital voltage comparator and a second digital voltage comparator each of the comparators coupled respectively to an associated latch for receiving the output of the voltage comparator, wherein the latches of monitor cell each include a timer configured to timestamp occurrences of overvoltage incidents and undervoltage incidents and wherein; inputs to the first comparator comprise a supply voltage from one of the plurality of supply conductors and an overvoltage reference voltage; and inputs to the second comparator comprise the supply voltage from the one of the plurality of supply conductors and an undervoltage reference voltage.
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Specification