Circuit Simulator Parameter Extraction Using a Configurable Ring Oscillator
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- (a) operating a configurable ring oscillator in a first configuration, wherein the ring oscillator is configurable to have a selectable one of a plurality of signal paths between a first node of the ring oscillator and a second node of the ring oscillator, wherein in the first configuration a first oscillating signal passes from the first node through a first of the signal paths and to the second node;
(b) making a first measurement of an operational characteristic of the ring oscillator configured in the first configuration;
(c) operating the configurable ring oscillator in a second configuration, wherein in the second configuration a second oscillating signal passes from the first node through a second of the signal paths and to the second node;
(d) making a second measurement of an operational characteristic of the ring oscillator configured in the second configuration; and
(e) using the first and second measurements to determine a circuit simulator parameter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A configurable ring oscillator is operated in a first configuration so that an oscillating signal passes from a first node to a second node through a first signal path. A first measurement of an operational characteristic is made. The ring oscillator is operated in a second configuration where an oscillating signal passes from the first node to the second node through a second signal path. A second measurement is made. The first and second measurements are used to determine a circuit simulator parameter. If the first path has little interconnect and the second path has substantial interconnect, then the effect on circuit operation due to interconnect loading can be isolated from the effects on circuit operation due to variations in transistor performance. If the first and second paths are laid out to be identical, then the first and second measurements are usable to determine a circuit simulator mismatch parameter.
6 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
(a) operating a configurable ring oscillator in a first configuration, wherein the ring oscillator is configurable to have a selectable one of a plurality of signal paths between a first node of the ring oscillator and a second node of the ring oscillator, wherein in the first configuration a first oscillating signal passes from the first node through a first of the signal paths and to the second node; (b) making a first measurement of an operational characteristic of the ring oscillator configured in the first configuration; (c) operating the configurable ring oscillator in a second configuration, wherein in the second configuration a second oscillating signal passes from the first node through a second of the signal paths and to the second node; (d) making a second measurement of an operational characteristic of the ring oscillator configured in the second configuration; and (e) using the first and second measurements to determine a circuit simulator parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method comprising:
-
(a) operating a configurable ring oscillator in a first configuration, wherein the ring oscillator is configurable to have a selectable one of a plurality of signal paths between a first node of the ring oscillator and a second node of the ring oscillator, wherein in the first configuration a first oscillating signal passes from the first node through a first of the signal paths and to the second node; (b) making a frequency measurement of the oscillating signal when the configurable ring oscillator is operating in the first configuration; (c) making a power consumption measurement when the configurable ring oscillator is operating in the first configuration; (d) adjusting a first circuit simulator parameter and a second circuit simulator parameter such that a simulated frequency of the configurable ring oscillator in the first configuration substantially matches the frequency measured in (b) and such that a simulated power consumption of the ring oscillator in the first configuration substantially matches the power consumption measured in (c); (e) operating the configurable ring oscillator in a second configuration, wherein in the second configuration a second oscillating signal passes from the first node through a second of the signal paths and to the second node; (f) making a frequency measurement of the oscillating signal when the configurable ring oscillator is operating in the second configuration; and (g) adjusting one or more additional circuit simulator parameters such that a simulated frequency of the configurable ring oscillator in the second configuration substantially matches the frequency measured in (f).
-
-
14. A method comprising:
-
(a) operating a configurable ring oscillator in a first configuration, wherein the ring oscillator is configurable to have a selectable one of a plurality of signal paths between a first node of the ring oscillator and a second node of the ring oscillator, wherein in the first configuration a first oscillating signal passes from the first node through a first of the signal paths and to the second node; (b) making a frequency measurement of the oscillating signal when the configurable ring oscillator is operating in the first configuration; (c) operating the configurable ring oscillator in a second configuration, wherein in the second configuration a second oscillating signal passes from the first node through a second of the signal paths and to the second node; (d) making a frequency measurement of the oscillating signal when the configurable ring oscillator is operating in the second configuration; and (e) determining a circuit simulator mismatch parameter based at least in part on the first and second measurements.
-
-
15. An integrated circuit comprising:
-
a first node; a second node; a plurality of selectable signal paths between the first node and the second node, wherein if a first of the signal paths is selected then the second signal path is substantially nonconductive and the first node is coupled to the second node through the first signal path, whereas if a second of the signal paths is selected then the first signal path is substantially nonconductive and the first node is coupled to the second node through the second signal path; and feedback circuitry having an input lead and an output lead, wherein the input lead is coupled to the second node, and wherein the output lead is coupled to the first node, and wherein the feedback circuitry, the first node, the plurality of selectable signal paths, and the second node together form a configurable ring oscillator. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method comprising:
using a configurable ring oscillator to determine a circuit simulator parameter, wherein the configurable ring oscillator is part of an integrated circuit and has a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration an oscillating signal passes from a first node of the ring oscillator to a second node of the ring oscillator through a first signal path and not through a second signal path, whereas in the second configuration the oscillating signal passes from the first node to the second node through the second signal path and not through the first signal path. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
Specification