Patent ID: 9235678
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: G06F

Claim Text:
1. A method for designing an integrated circuit (“IC”), including the steps of: (a) designing the IC to meet a voltage dependent frequency specification, the IC design including feedback circuitry for controlling a power supply voltage to a fabricated instance of the IC design; (b) characterizing a fabrication process for corner lots for the IC design at a range of power supply voltage levels achievable by the feedback circuitry; (c) validating the IC design against the fabrication process if the frequency specification is achievable for essentially all instances of the IC design fabricated in accordance with the fabrication process by adjustment of the power supply voltage levels applied to such instances of the IC design within the range of the power supply voltage levels achievable by the feedback circuitry; (d) fabricating ICs based on the IC design using the characterized fabrication process; and (e) adjusting the power supply voltage of each IC of the IC design using the feedback circuitry by reducing the power supply voltage for fast corner lots and increasing power supply voltage for slow corner lots.