Patent ID: 7301378
Filing Date: 2007-11-27
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. A method for determining optimal power and frequency metrics in an integrated circuit, comprising: providing a delay replication circuit having an output signal that represents a set of voltage dependent delay replication curves specific to the integrated circuit, the set comprising at least a first voltage dependent delay replication curve and a second voltage dependent delay replication curve, each of the voltage dependent delay replication curves representing a predetermined approximation of maximum delay of critical paths in the integrated circuit at a plurality of operating voltages; using the output signal to determine a first voltage and frequency operating point on the first voltage dependent delay replication curve; and selectively adding delay in the delay replication circuit to transition from the first voltage and frequency operating point to an optimal voltage and frequency operating point corresponding to a lower supply voltage operation of the integrated circuit by transitioning frequency at least once without operating below a predetermined margin frequency associated with the first voltage dependent delay replication curve by transitioning through at least one voltage and frequency operating point on the second voltage dependent delay replication curve.