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:
Aug. 23, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 17, 2004
Greg Starr, San Jose, CA (US);
Samit Sengupta, San Jose, CA (US);
Hugh Sungki O, Fremont, CA (US);
Altera Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
Integrated circuits are stabilized by monitoring changes that affect circuit operation and by compensating for those changes using power supply adjustments. Changes in operating temperature and threshold voltage changes may be measured. Differential measurements may be made in which threshold voltages measured in continuously-biased monitoring circuits are compared to threshold voltages measured in intermittently-biased monitoring circuits. Temperature changes may be monitored using a temperature monitoring circuit based on an adjustable current source and a diode. Monitoring and compensation circuitry on the integrated circuits may use analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters controlled by a control unit to make temperature and threshold voltage measurements and corresponding compensating changes in power supply voltages.