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.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 12, 2006

Filed:

Dec. 18, 2002
Applicants:

Wai Cheong Chan, Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Donald Kevin Cameron, Mountain View, CA (US);

Inventors:

Wai Cheong Chan, Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Donald Kevin Cameron, Mountain View, CA (US);

Assignee:

National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 1/26 (2006.01); H03K 27/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A system and method for slack determination in a logic integrated circuit. A launch pulse is input to a circular delay loop circuit. The leading edge of the launch pulse causes a pulse to circulate around the circular delay loop. The number of passes made through the loop by the circulating pulse is counted by a latch/counter circuit. A sample pulse is input to the latch/counter circuit to latch the number of pulse circulations at the leading edge of the sample pulse. The pulse circulation count provides delay information in the circuit that may subsequently be used to adjust a supply voltage in the integrated circuit.


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