The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 1996
Filed:
Oct. 21, 1994
David E Moran, South Burlington, VT (US);
Timothy J O'Gorman, Williston, VT (US);
Kimball M Watson, Essex Junction, VT (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A method of assessing the tolerance of a microprocessor to propagation time degradation caused by electromigration effects and hot electron effects is provided. Reference values for interconnection resistance (IR) degradation and drain current (DC) degradation are compute, at nominal fabrication process and microprocessor lifetime application conditions. These results may be tabulated for a plurality of output driver load capacitances. Test IR degradation and test DC degradation values are calculated by scaling the reference IR and DC degradation values, respectively, for actual test conditions. The circuit propagation time and the propagation delay degradation caused by both electromigration and hot electron effects are calculated at process and lifetime environmental conditions. A timing equation is evaluated using distinctly identified components of the propagation delay degradation caused by electromigration and hot electron effects, to assess the toleration of the microprocessor to electromigration and hot electron induced propagation delay degradation.