Patent ID: 7142996
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: G01R,G06F,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method of determining an operating voltage for an individual integrated circuit, said method comprising: running said integrated circuit at a required operating frequency; executing a test sequence of data processing operations on said integrated circuit to exercise critical paths of said integrated circuit at each of at least a subset of a set of test voltages, wherein successful execution of said test sequence at a given test voltage indicates that said integrated circuit can reliably sustain said required operating frequency at said given test voltage; identifying a lowest test voltage from said subset of test voltages for which said test sequence was successfully executed; determining said operating voltage for said individual integrated circuit at said required operating frequency in dependence upon said lowest test voltage, wherein said method is performed whilst said integrated circuit is incorporated within an end device; and using said determined operating voltage to set the operating voltage for said integrated circuit.