Integrated circuit process and bias monitors and related methods
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit device, comprising:
- at least one oscillator stage that includesa current mirror circuit comprising first and second mirror transistors of a first conductivity type, and configured to mirror current on two mirror paths,at least one reference transistor of a second conductivity type having a source-drain path coupled to a first of the mirror paths, anda switching circuit coupled to a second of the mirror paths and configured to generate a transition in a stage output signal in response to a stage input signal received from another oscillator stage, whereinthe channel lengths of the first and second mirror transistors are larger than that of the at least one reference transistor;
whereinthe at least one oscillator stage includes a plurality of oscillator stages connected as ring oscillator circuit, with stage output signals of each oscillator stage being coupled to an input of another oscillator stage; and
body bias circuits configured to generate at least one body bias voltage in response to the ring oscillator circuit and apply the at least one body bias voltage to a group of transistors on the integrated circuit different from those of the ring oscillator circuit and monitor circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit device can include at least one oscillator stage having a current mirror circuit comprising first and second mirror transistors of a first conductivity type, and configured to mirror current on two mirror paths, at least one reference transistor of a second conductivity type having a source-drain path coupled to a first of the mirror paths, and a switching circuit coupled to a second of the mirror paths and configured to generate a transition in a stage output signal in response to a stage input signal received from another oscillator stage, wherein the channel lengths of the first and second mirror transistors are larger than that of the at least one reference transistor.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit device, comprising:
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at least one oscillator stage that includes a current mirror circuit comprising first and second mirror transistors of a first conductivity type, and configured to mirror current on two mirror paths, at least one reference transistor of a second conductivity type having a source-drain path coupled to a first of the mirror paths, and a switching circuit coupled to a second of the mirror paths and configured to generate a transition in a stage output signal in response to a stage input signal received from another oscillator stage, wherein the channel lengths of the first and second mirror transistors are larger than that of the at least one reference transistor;
whereinthe at least one oscillator stage includes a plurality of oscillator stages connected as ring oscillator circuit, with stage output signals of each oscillator stage being coupled to an input of another oscillator stage; and body bias circuits configured to generate at least one body bias voltage in response to the ring oscillator circuit and apply the at least one body bias voltage to a group of transistors on the integrated circuit different from those of the ring oscillator circuit and monitor circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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at least one oscillator stage comprising, a current mirror circuit comprising mirror transistors of a first conductivity type configured to mirror current drawn through a reference node at a mirror node; at least one reference transistor of a second conductivity type having a drain coupled to a switching circuit configured to generate at least one stage output signal in response to at least one stage input signal, the switching circuit including, a first switching transistor with a source coupled to the mirror node and a gate coupled to a stage input, and a second switching transistor with a source-drain path in series with the source drain path of the first switching transistor, and a gate coupled to the stage input;
whereinthe stage input is coupled to receive the at least one input signal from another stage of the oscillator;
whereinthe at least one oscillator stage is operable in an active mode in which a signal propagates through the switching circuit according to a current flowing through the reference transistor, and an inactive mode in which substantially no current flows through the reference transistor and switching circuit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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in a stage of a ring oscillator circuit, mirroring a reference current flowing through a reference transistor with a current mirror circuit to generate a mirrored current, the current mirror circuit comprising mirror transistors of a first conductivity type having channels lengths substantially larger than that of the reference transistor, and controlling transitions in a stage output signal in response to a stage input signal with a switching circuit according to the mirrored current, wherein the stage input signal is a stage output signal of another stage of the ring oscillator circuit generating a body bias in response to an oscillating signal generated by the ring oscillator circuit; and applying the body bias to transistors of an integrated circuit that includes the ring oscillator circuit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification