Patent ID: 7424663

Claim:
A method of operating a cache comprising volatile memory cells in a mobile processor system, the method comprising: determining a first voltage value as a minimum operating voltage (Vcc min) of the cache if each of the volatile memory cells functions correctly when the first voltage value is set as Vcc min; setting a Vcc min of the cache to a second voltage value at which the number of volatile memory cells that fail in the cache is between approximately 0.1% and approximately 1% of the number of lines in the cache, while the remaining volatile memory cells continue to function correctly at the second voltage value chosen for Vcc min; and compensating for errors produced by volatile memory cells in the cache that fail when operated at the second voltage value chosen for Vcc min to enable operation of the mobile processor system at a reduced Vcc min equal to the second voltage value that is less than the first voltage value.