Patent Document

[0001]    This invention was made with Government support under Contract No.: HR0011-13-C-0022 awarded by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Project DARPA PERFECT, Pradip Bose, HR0011-13-C-0022. The Government has certain rights in this invention. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present exemplary embodiments pertain to semiconductor device circuits and, more particularly, pertain to measurement of transistor leakage by an apparatus located on the semiconductor device. 
         [0003]    One of the challenges facing the users and designers of integrated circuits is managing the power produced by a semiconductor device, also referred to as a chip. The power dissipated by a digital chip has two basic sources which are switching current and leakage current. When a gate is switching from one logical value to another, there is a brief period of time where current passes through the transistors dissipating power in the form of heat. Historically, this switching current has been the focus of the designer&#39;s attention because it was substantially greater than the nominal leakage current that occurred when the gate was not switching and the transistors were “off”. 
         [0004]    However, with smaller geometries and reduced operating voltages, the leakage current is a significantly larger proportion of the power production problem. One of the challenges is accurately measuring the amount of leakage current that is actually present on a particular chip. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The various advantages and purposes of the exemplary embodiments as described above and hereafter are achieved by providing, according to one aspect of the exemplary embodiments, a method of measuring semiconductor device leakage comprising: providing a semiconductor device powered by a supply voltage and having at least one circuit block comprising a plurality of transistors; providing on the semiconductor device a test circuit providing an input to a counter and a fixed-frequency measurement clock to provide a clock signal to the counter, wherein the counter providing a semiconductor device leakage metric; disconnecting a system clock from the circuit block, the system clock, in the absence of the disconnecting, causes the circuit block to switch from a first state to a second state; receiving by the test circuit the supply voltage as an input; initializing the counter; starting the counter when the supply voltage is at or below a first voltage V high ; monitoring a decrease of the supply voltage with time; stopping the counter when the supply voltage is at or below a second voltage V low  such that V high  is greater than V low ; and reading the counter to provide the semiconductor device leakage metric. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect of the exemplary embodiments, there is provided an apparatus for measuring semiconductor device leakage comprising: a semiconductor device powered by a supply voltage and having at least one circuit block comprising a plurality of transistors; a system clock on the semiconductor device; a test circuit provided on the semiconductor device to measure semiconductor device leakage; a power supply to provide a fixed voltage to the test circuit to power the test circuit. The test circuit comprising a voltage monitor to output a first value indicative of a first voltage, V high  and a second value indicative of second voltage, V low  wherein V high  is greater than V low . The apparatus further comprising a fixed-frequency measurement clock separate from the system clock; a counter for providing a semiconductor device leakage metric and receiving an input from the fixed-frequency measurement clock and receiving an input from the test circuit; responsive to the voltage monitor outputting the first value, the counter starts counting; responsive to the voltage monitor outputting the second value, the counter stops counting. 
         [0007]    According to a further aspect of the exemplary embodiments, there is provided a computer program product for measuring semiconductor device leakage on a semiconductor device powered by a supply voltage and having at least one circuit block comprising a plurality of transistors and providing on the semiconductor device a test circuit, a fixed-frequency measurement clock and a counter for providing a semiconductor device leakage metric such that the test circuit and fixed-frequency measurement clock both providing an input to the counter, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a computing device to cause the device to perform a method comprising: disconnecting a system clock from the circuit block, wherein the system clock, in the absence of the disconnecting, causes the circuit block to switch from a first state to a second state; receiving by the test circuit the supply voltage as an input; initializing the counter; starting the counter when the supply voltage is at or below a first voltage V high ; monitoring a decrease of the supply voltage with time; stopping the counter when the supply voltage is at or below a second voltage V low  such that V high  is greater than V low ; and reading the counter to provide the semiconductor device leakage metric. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The features of the exemplary embodiments believed to be novel and the elements characteristic of the exemplary embodiments are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The Figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The exemplary embodiments, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for measuring on-chip leakage current. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a graph of voltage versus time pertaining to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is another exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for measuring on-chip leakage current. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a graph of voltage versus time pertaining to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an exemplary circuit diagram for the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a graph of voltage versus time pertaining to the exemplary circuit diagram of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an exemplary embodiment of a method for measuring on-chip leakage current using the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is another exemplary embodiment of a method for measuring on-chip leakage current using the apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a further exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for measuring on-chip leakage current. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is yet another exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for measuring on-chip leakage current. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is an exemplary circuit diagram for the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a graph of voltage versus time pertaining to the exemplary circuit diagram of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is an example of clock counts for the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a further exemplary embodiment of a method for measuring on-chip leakage current using the apparatus of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is yet another exemplary embodiment of a method for measuring on-chip leakage current using the apparatus of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The exemplary embodiments target on-chip measurement of leakage, which may be enabled in the field at a customer&#39;s site. Leakage measurement may be important in tracking life time reliability, as well as effectiveness of power management, and customer usage patterns in the field. 
         [0025]    Leakage or leakage current may be thought of as current between source and drain across the channel or from gate to source when there is no switching of the circuit. 
         [0026]    The exemplary embodiments measure leakage by observing the time of transition from a higher voltage to a lower voltage for a circuit block when no switch activity may be present in the circuit block. 
         [0027]    Referring to the Figures in more detail, and particularly referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown one exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for practicing the present invention. Circuit block  10 , representing one portion of a larger semiconductor device (not shown), is powered by a voltage on the power rail of the transistors of the circuit block. This voltage is conventionally referred to as the Vdd voltage  12 . Vdd voltage may also be referred to generically as the supply voltage. Connected to circuit block  10  may be a system clock  14 . This exemplary embodiment further includes a test circuit  16  connected to a fixed-frequency measurement clock  44  in a fixed-frequency clock domain  18 . 
         [0028]    The test circuit  16  may be powered by the same source that provides the Vdd voltage  12  to circuit block  10 . 
         [0029]    The test circuit  16  and the fixed-frequency measurement clock domain  18  will be described in more detail hereafter. 
         [0030]    In operation of this exemplary embodiment, the system clock  14  may be disconnected as indicated by open switch  22  to ensure that the circuit block  10  does not undergo switching during measurement of leakage. The Vdd voltage  12  may also be disconnected as indicated by open switch  24  so that circuit block  10  is no longer powered. Since the circuit block  10  is no longer powered, the Vdd voltage  12  may drift lower with time. This exemplary embodiment measures the time that the Vdd voltage  12  takes to drift lower between two reference voltages V high  and V low . The Vdd voltage  12  may eventually drift to zero with time. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is a graph of voltage versus time. The curve  26  illustrates a constant Vdd voltage  12  until the system clock switch  22  is opened and the Vdd voltage switch  24  is opened. The curve  26  then starts to drift lower. At a point  28  at or just below where the system clock switch  22  is opened, the Vdd voltage  12  may be referenced as V high . At a point  30  lower on the curve  26  but above zero, the Vdd voltage  12  may be referenced as V low . 
         [0032]    The time for the Vdd voltage  12  to transition from V high  to V low  is measured and may be used as a metric to measure leakage. In one example, the time to transition from V high  to V low  may be measured when the semiconductor device is new and then compared to a later value of the transition time when the semiconductor device may be in the field. A shorter transition time at a later time may indicate greater leakage. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated another exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for practicing the present invention. Components in  FIG. 3  that are similar to components of  FIG. 1  are numbered the same. That is, the apparatus in  FIG. 3  includes a circuit block  10  powered by Vdd voltage  12 . Circuit block  10  may be connected to system clock  14 . In addition, there may be a test circuit  16  connected to a fixed-frequency measurement clock  44  in a fixed-frequency clock domain  18 . 
         [0034]    The exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3  may further include a voltage regulator  32  to supply a Vdd voltage  12  and may further include a fixed voltage supply  34  for the test circuit  16 . 
         [0035]    In operation of this exemplary embodiment, the system clock  14  may be disconnected as indicated by open switch  22  to ensure that the circuit block  10  does not undergo switching during measurement of leakage. The voltage regulator  32  may step down the Vdd voltage  12  to a lower voltage than the Vdd voltage. This exemplary embodiment measures the time that the Vdd voltage  12  takes to drift lower between two reference voltages V high  and V low . The Vdd voltage  12  may eventually drift down to the imposed voltage with time. The lower regulated voltage preferably is less than V low . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is a graph of voltage versus time. The curve  36  illustrates a constant Vdd voltage  12  until the system clock switch  22  is opened and a new Vdd voltage is imposed on the circuit block  10  by the voltage regulator  32 . The curve  36  then starts to drift lower. At a point  28  at or just below where the system clock switch  22  is opened, the Vdd voltage  12  may be referenced as V high . At a point  30  lower on the curve  36  but above the final value of Vdd (the voltage imposed by the voltage regulator  32 ), the Vdd voltage  12  may be referenced as V low . V low  should always be higher, even by a small amount, than the final value Vdd. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated an exemplary circuit diagram for the apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The test circuit  16  may be implemented by V high  voltage comparator  38 , a V low  voltage comparator  40  and a NOR gate  42 . 
         [0038]    The test circuit  16  may be connected to fixed-frequency clock domain  18 . The fixed-frequency clock domain  18  may further include a fixed-frequency measurement clock  44 , a NAND gate  46  and a clock counter  48 . The NAND gate  46  receives an input from both the test circuit  16  and the fixed-frequency measurement clock  44 . 
         [0039]    It is understood that every clocked element (e.g., flip-flops, latches) within the fixed frequency clock domain  18  connects to and operates at the fixed frequency measurement clock  44 . 
         [0040]    The test circuit  16  shown in  FIG. 5  may produce an enabling signal as described below to the clock input of the clock counter  48  between V high  and V low  as indicated in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0041]    At the beginning of testing, the clock counter  48  may be read or simply reset to zero, the Vdd voltage  12  may be initially higher than V high . When the Vdd voltage is between V high  and V low , both comparators  38 ,  40  may produce a “0” and the output of the NOR gate  42  is a “1”. When the NOR gate  42  outputs a “1” to the NAND gate  46 , the NAND gate  46  lets a clock signal from the fixed-frequency measurement clock  44  pass through the NAND gate  46  to the clock counter  48 , therefore enabling the clock counter  48  to count the number of clock ticks during this period. When the Vdd voltage  12  finally reaches V low  or lower, the V low  voltage comparator  40  now produces a signal of “1”, the NOR gate  42  output is set to “0” and the clock counter  48  is disabled. 
         [0042]    The clock counter  48  contains the number of clock ticks during the voltage transition between V high  and V low . The system may now read and record the clock counter  48  for the transition time between V high  and V low , and then translate this transition time to leakage value by, for example, using a pre-calibrated translation time look-up table. 
         [0043]    When the clock counter  48  may be initialized, either by resetting the clock counter to zero or by reading the current value of the clock counter  48 , the clock counter  48  may only need to be read when the NOR gate  42  output is set to “0” to obtain the transition time. 
         [0044]    In the circuit diagram of  FIG. 5 , the Vdd voltage switch  24  would be opened for the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 . For the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the Vdd voltage switch  24  (indicated by dashed lines) would be closed and there would be the voltage regulator  32  (indicated by dashed lines) and the fixed voltage supply  34 . It is understood that every element within the fixed frequency clock domain  18  connects to and operates under the fixed voltage supply  34 . 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated another exemplary embodiment of a method of measuring leakage using the apparatus of  FIGS. 1 and 5 . The circuit block  10  under test is disconnected from the system clock  14  and power supply (Vdd voltage)  12 , block  60 . 
         [0046]    The clock counter may be initialized, block  62 . The clock counter  48  may be initialized by reading the clock counter  48  or setting the clock counter  48  to zero. 
         [0047]    The clock counter  48  is started, box  64 . 
         [0048]    When the Vdd voltage  12  is the same or lower than V low , the clock counter  48  is stopped, box  66 . 
         [0049]    The clock counter  48  may be read. Finally, the power supply (Vdd voltage)  12  and system clock  14  are reconnected to the circuit block  10 , block  68 . 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is illustrated another exemplary embodiment of a method of measuring leakage using the apparatus of  FIGS. 3 and 5 . The circuit block  10  under test is disconnected from the system clock  14 , block  70 . 
         [0051]    The clock counter may be initialized, block  72 . The clock counter  48  may be initialized by reading the clock counter  48  or setting the clock counter  48  to zero. 
         [0052]    The voltage regulator  32  lowers the Vdd voltage  12  to a value less than V low , box  74 . 
         [0053]    The clock counter  48  is started, box  76 . 
         [0054]    When the Vdd voltage  12  is the same or lower than V low , the clock counter  48  is stopped, box  78 . 
         [0055]    The clock counter  48  may be read, box  80 . Finally, the system clock  14  is reconnected to the circuit block  10 , block  80  and the power supply sets Vdd to the desired voltage. 
         [0056]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , there is illustrated another exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for practicing the present invention. Components in  FIG. 9  that are similar to components of  FIG. 1  are numbered the same. The difference between the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 9  and the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  is that the test circuit  16  of  FIG. 1  has been replaced by a ring oscillator test circuit  82  and the fixed-frequency clock domain  18  of  FIG. 1  has been replaced by a different fixed-frequency clock domain  84 . The exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 9  illustrates the embodiment where no voltage is imposed on the circuit block  10  as in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0057]    The apparatus in  FIG. 9  includes a circuit block  10  powered by Vdd voltage  12 . Circuit block  10  may be connected to system clock  14 . In addition, there may be a ring oscillator test circuit  82  connected to a fixed-frequency measurement clock  92  in a fixed-frequency clock domain  18 . The fixed-frequency measurement clock  92  may be the same or different from the fixed-frequency measurement clock  44  described with respect to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . 
         [0058]    In operation of this exemplary embodiment, the system clock  14  may be disconnected as indicated by open switch  22  to ensure that the circuit block  10  does not undergo switching during measurement of leakage. The Vdd voltage  12  may also be disconnected as indicated by open switch  24  so that circuit block  10  is no longer powered. Since the circuit block  10  is no longer powered, the Vdd voltage  12  may drift lower with time. 
         [0059]    A ring oscillator is a device composed of an odd number of NOT gates whose output oscillates between two voltage levels, representing true and false. The NOT gates, or inverters, are attached in a chain and the output of the last inverter is fed back into the first. 
         [0060]    At a high voltage, the free running ring oscillator has a higher ring oscillator count per unit of time than at a lower voltage. The time to switch from a high RO count to a low RO count during a recording period by observing the readings in one or more history registers may be a proxy for leakage. The transition time from a high RO count to a low RO count may be translated to leakage value by using a pre-calibrated translation look-up table. 
         [0061]    The ring oscillator count is the number of times around the ring oscillator chain per the unit of time. The ring oscillator count may be referred to as the RO count. This RO count is recorded for a period of the fixed-frequency measurement clock, referred to as an RO Measurement period. The RO Measurement period may be typically in nanoseconds and may represent one or more clock cycles. 
         [0062]    The RO counts may be recorded during the RO Measurement period and placed in one or more history registers. RO counts may be continually recorded and placed in the history registers. However, since there may not be much change between one RO Measurement period and the next RO Measurement period, several RO Measurement periods may be skipped before the next RO Measurement period may be recorded. The interval between RO Measurement periods that may be recorded may be, for example, two or more clock cycles. 
         [0063]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , there is illustrated another exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for practicing the present invention. Components in  FIG. 10  that are similar to components of  FIG. 3  are numbered the same. The difference between the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 10  and the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3  is that the test circuit  16  of  FIG. 3  has been replaced by a ring oscillator test circuit  82  and the fixed-frequency measurement clock domain  18  of  FIG. 3  has been replaced by a different fixed-frequency measurement clock domain  84 . The exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 10  illustrates the embodiment where a voltage may be imposed on the circuit block  10  as in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0064]    The apparatus in  FIG. 10  includes a circuit block  10  powered by Vdd voltage  12 . Circuit block  10  may be connected to system clock  14 . In addition, there may be a ring oscillator test circuit  82  connected to a fixed-frequency measurement clock  92  in a fixed-frequency clock domain  84 . 
         [0065]    In operation of this exemplary embodiment, the system clock  14  may be disconnected as indicated by open switch  22  to ensure that the circuit block  10  does not undergo switching during measurement of leakage. The voltage regulator  32  steps down the Vdd voltage  12  to a lower voltage than the Vdd voltage. The Vdd voltage  12  will eventually drift down to the imposed voltage with time. The ring oscillator test circuit  82  would operate as described above with respect to the  FIG. 9  exemplary embodiment. 
         [0066]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , there is illustrated an exemplary circuit diagram for the apparatus illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
         [0067]    The ring oscillator test circuit  82  provides an output to the NAND gate  46 . A signal from the fixed-frequency measurement clock  44  and the output from the ring oscillator test circuit  82  may pass through the NAND gate  46  to the ring oscillator (RO) counter  86 . Any counts from the RO counter  86  may be passed to one or more history registers  88 . It is understood that every clocked element (e.g., flip-flops, latches) within the fixed frequency clock domain  84  connects to and operates at the fixed frequency measurement clock  92 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 11  also shows a voltage converter  52 . For cases where the ring oscillator test circuit  82  may be operating at a higher voltage than the circuit block  10  under test, a voltage converter  52  may be needed to boost the signal out of the ring oscillator  82  to the NAND logic gate  46 . A voltage converter  52  may not be needed if the circuit block  10  under test operates at a higher voltage than the ring oscillator test circuit  82  during the duration of the test. 
         [0069]    Further, in the circuit diagram of  FIG. 11  where a voltage is imposed on the circuit block  10  such as with the  FIG. 10  embodiment, the Vdd voltage switch  24  (indicated by dashed lines) would be closed, there would be the voltage regulator  32  (indicated by dashed lines) and fixed voltage source  34  (indicated by dashed lines). It is understood that every element within the fixed frequency clock domain  84  connects to and operates under the fixed voltage supply  34 . 
         [0070]    Referring now to  FIG. 12 , there is a graph of voltage versus time. The curve  90  illustrates a constant Vdd voltage  12  until the system clock switch  22  is opened. As described previously, the curve  90  would be similar whether the voltage is disconnected from the circuit block  10  or if a voltage is imposed on the circuit block  10 . The curve  90  then starts to drift lower, either because the Vdd voltage has been disconnected or because the voltage regulator  32  causes the Vdd voltage to drift to a lower voltage than V low . At a point  28  at or just below where the system clock switch  22  is opened, the Vdd voltage  12  may be referenced as V high . At a point  30  lower on the curve  90 , the Vdd voltage  12  may be referenced as V low . 
         [0071]    Just before the system clock switch  22  is opened, the RO counter  86  is initialized. Initialization may be, for example, by reading the RO counter  86  or by setting the RO counter  86  to zero. The RO counter  86  may then be started before the system clock switch  22  is opened. 
         [0072]    At point  28  (V high ) and at point  30  (V low ), the RO count during an RO Measurement period may be counted by the RO counter  86 . There may be, and usually will be, RO counts and RO Measurement periods between points  28  and  30 . Referring now to  FIG. 13 , there is illustrated the RO counts and RO Measurement periods for a time period  1 . The time period  1  starts at a first RO Measurement period having 2000 counts (V high ) and ends at a subsequent RO Measurement period having 1000 counts (V low ). The counts may be per clock cycle or some multiple of clock cycles of the fixed-frequency measurement clock  92 . At some time later, which could be days, weeks or even years, time period  2  measures the time between a first RO Measurement period having 2000 counts (V high ) and 1000 counts (V low ). Again, the counts may be per clock cycle or some multiple of clock cycles of the fixed-frequency measurement clock  92 . It can be seen that the time between the RO Measurement period having 2000 counts (V high ) and the subsequent RO Measurement period having 1000 counts (V low ) is longer in time period  2  indicating greater leakage during time period  2 . 
         [0073]    In both time period  1  and time period  2 , the RO counts, such as 1800, 1600, etc., between the first RO Measurement period having 2000 counts and the subsequent RO Measurement period having 1000 counts represent RO counts during other RO Measurement periods. 
         [0074]    It should be understood that the example data shown in  FIG. 13  is for the purpose of illustration and not limitation. 
         [0075]    V high  may be easily determined as it occurs just before the system clock  14  is disconnected from the circuit block  10 . V low  may be determined by running an initial test in which the RO counter counts until the Vdd voltage reaches zero (in the case where the Vdd voltage is disconnected from the circuit block  10 ) or until the Vdd voltage reaches the imposed voltage (in the case where the Vdd voltage is imposed by the voltage regulator  34 ). In this way, a meaningful endpoint threshold above zero in the case where the Vdd voltage is allowed to go to zero or above the imposed voltage may be selected for V low  in which the RO counter  86  may stop counting. 
         [0076]    Alternatively, V low  may be arbitrarily chosen to have an RO count substantially below the RO count for V high . In the example shown in  FIG. 13 , V low  may be selected to have an RO count during the RO Measurement period of 1000 counts. 
         [0077]    Referring now to  FIG. 14 , there is illustrated another exemplary embodiment of a method of measuring leakage using the apparatus of  FIGS. 9 and 11 . 
         [0078]    The RO counter  86  may be initialized, box  100 , as described previously to begin the method. Thereafter, the RO counter  86  may be started, box  102 . 
         [0079]    Following the start of the RO counter  86 , the system clock  14  and Vdd voltage  12  may be disconnected from the circuit block  10 , box  104 . 
         [0080]    The RO counts are then read and recorded with time stamps, box  106 . At this time, the RO counts may be stored in the RO count history registers  88 . 
         [0081]    The method proceeds to determine if the endpoint threshold has been reached, box  108 . This endpoint threshold may be V low  which was previously determined as described previously or, alternatively, was assigned a meaningful value. 
         [0082]    If the endpoint threshold has not been reached, the method proceeds on the “NO” path to again read and record RO counts with time stamps, box  106 . As noted previously, there may not be a significant difference between RO counts in sequential RO Measurement periods. Thus, it may be desirable to institute a delay, box  114 , to delay reading the RO counts for some multiple of RO Measurement periods or clock cycles. Again, this delay may be, for example, two clock cycles or more. 
         [0083]    If the endpoint threshold has been reached, the method proceeds on the “YES” path to stop the RO counter  86  and record the stop time, box  110 . This information may be stored in the RO count history registers  88 . 
         [0084]    Then, the Vdd voltage  12  and system clock  14  may be reconnected to resume normal system operation. The RO count history registers  88  may be read and evaluated to determine leakage, box  112 . 
         [0085]    Referring now to  FIG. 15 , there is illustrated another exemplary embodiment of a method of measuring leakage using the apparatus of  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         [0086]    The RO counter  86  may be initialized to begin the method, box  120 . Thereafter, the RO counter  86  may be started, box  122 . 
         [0087]    Following the start of the RO counter  86 , the system clock  14  may be disconnected from the circuit block  10 , box  124 . 
         [0088]    The voltage regulator  32  may impose a Vdd voltage on the circuit block  10 , box  126 . The imposed Vdd voltage preferably is less than V low . 
         [0089]    The RO counts are then read and recorded with time stamps, box  128 . At this time, the RO counts may be stored in the RO count history registers  88 . 
         [0090]    The method proceeds to determine if the endpoint threshold has been reached, box  130 . This endpoint threshold may be V low  which was previously determined as described previously or, alternatively, was assigned a meaningful value. 
         [0091]    If the endpoint threshold has not been reached, the method proceeds on the “NO” path to again read and record RO counts with time stamps, box  128 . As noted previously, there may not be a significant difference between RO counts in sequential RO Measurement periods. Thus, it may be desirable to institute a delay, box  136 , to delay reading the RO counts for some multiple of RO Measurement periods or clock cycles. Again, this delay may be, for example, two clock cycles or more. 
         [0092]    If the endpoint threshold has been reached, the method proceeds on the “YES” path to stop the RO counter  86  and record the stop time, box  132 . This information may be stored in the RO count history registers  88 . 
         [0093]    Then, the Vdd voltage  12  may be set to the desired voltage and the system clock  14  may be reconnected to resume normal system operation. The RO count history registers  88  may be read and evaluated to determine leakage, box  134 . 
         [0094]    The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product at any possible technical detail level of integration. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. 
         [0095]    The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire. 
         [0096]    Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. 
         [0097]    Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention. 
         [0098]    Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. 
         [0099]    These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0100]    The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0101]    The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
         [0102]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having regard to this disclosure that other modifications of the exemplary embodiments beyond those embodiments specifically described here may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, such modifications are considered within the scope of the invention as limited solely by the appended claims.

Technology Category: 3