Automated detection of and compensation for guardband degradation during operation of clocked data processing circuit
First Claim
1. An automated guardband compensation system for automatically compensating for degradation in the guardband of a clocked data processing circuit while that circuit is connected within a data processing system comprising:
- a switching circuit configured when requested to switch a critical path in the clocked data processing circuit out of and back into a data processing pathway in the data processing system while the clocked data processing circuit is connected within the data processing system;
a guardband test circuit configured when requested to test for degradation in the guardband of the critical path while the critical path is switched out of the data processing pathway;
a guardband compensation circuit configured when requested to increase the guardband; and
a control circuit configured to automatically and repeatedly request;
the switching circuit to switch the critical path out of the data processing pathway while the clocked data processing circuit is connected within the data processing system;
the guardband test circuit to test the guardband of the critical path while the critical path is switched out of the data processing pathway;
the guardband compensation circuit to increase the guardband when the results of the test indicate a material degradation in the guardband; and
the switching circuit to switch the critical path back into the data processing pathway after the test.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated guardband compensation system automatically compensates for degradation in the guardband of a clocked data processing circuit while that circuit is connected within a data processing system. A control circuit automatically and repeatedly requests: a switching circuit to switch a critical path within the clocked data processing circuit out of a data processing pathway within the data processing system while the clocked data processing circuit is connected within the data processing system; a guardband test circuit to test the guardband of the critical path while the critical path is switched out of the data processing pathway; a guardband compensation circuit to increase the guardband when the results of the test indicate a material degradation in the guardband; and a switching circuit to switch the critical path back into the data processing pathway after the test.
4 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An automated guardband compensation system for automatically compensating for degradation in the guardband of a clocked data processing circuit while that circuit is connected within a data processing system comprising:
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a switching circuit configured when requested to switch a critical path in the clocked data processing circuit out of and back into a data processing pathway in the data processing system while the clocked data processing circuit is connected within the data processing system; a guardband test circuit configured when requested to test for degradation in the guardband of the critical path while the critical path is switched out of the data processing pathway; a guardband compensation circuit configured when requested to increase the guardband; and a control circuit configured to automatically and repeatedly request; the switching circuit to switch the critical path out of the data processing pathway while the clocked data processing circuit is connected within the data processing system; the guardband test circuit to test the guardband of the critical path while the critical path is switched out of the data processing pathway; the guardband compensation circuit to increase the guardband when the results of the test indicate a material degradation in the guardband; and the switching circuit to switch the critical path back into the data processing pathway after the test. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A automated guardband compensation system for automatically compensating for degradation in the guardband of a clocked data processing circuit while that circuit is connected within a data processing system comprising:
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a test vector storage system containing multiple test vectors, each configured to test a different critical path in the clocked data processing circuit while that circuit is connected within the data processing system; a guardband test circuit configured when requested to test for degradation in the guardband of a specified critical path in the clocked data processing circuit while that clocked data processing circuit is connected within the data processing system; a guardband compensation circuit configured when requested to increase the guardband; and a control circuit configured to automatically and repeatedly request; the guardband test circuit to test the guardband of more than one of the critical paths using the test vectors for those critical paths while the clocked data processing circuit is connected within the data processing system; and the guardband compensation circuit to increase the guardband when the results of a test indicate a material degradation in the guardband. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification