Patent ID: 8884685

Claim:
An adaptive dynamic voltage scaling circuit, including: (a) a primary variable voltage source for providing an initial circuit voltage; (b) at least one variable voltage source powered by the primary variable voltage source; (c) at least one test cell including: (1) at least one test circuit powered by an associated one of the variable voltage sources; and (2) at least one reference circuit, each essentially identical to and in proximity to at least one associated test circuit in the same test cell and powered by the primary variable voltage source; (d) a comparison and detection circuit coupled to at least one variable voltage source and at least one test cell, for comparing the functionality of the at least one test circuit within a coupled test cell against the functionality of the at least one associated reference circuit within such coupled test cell over a range of voltage values from the variable voltage source associated with such test cell until a cross-over voltage value is determined at which the at least one test circuit reaches a cross-over point of functionality; and (e) a controller circuit coupled to the comparison and detection circuit for adjusting the voltage of the primary variable voltage source to be marginally greater than the cross-over voltage value.