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:
Mar. 25, 2008
Filed:
Oct. 17, 2005
Reuven Ecker, Haifa, IL;
David Moshe, D. N. Gilboa, IL;
Reuven Ecker, Haifa, IL;
David Moshe, D. N. Gilboa, IL;
Marvell Semiconductor Israel Ltd., Yokneam, IL;
Abstract
A circuit and related method of monitoring performance of an integrated circuit is provided comprising: using a variable oscillator that has an oscillation time period that varies within an expected range with variations in one or more of process, voltage or temperature to provide a signal that causes a count of a first counter to change at rate proportional to an oscillation frequency of the variable oscillator; using a clock source that has a frequency that substantially does not vary with variations in one or more of process, time or voltage to cause a count of a second counter to change at rate proportional to an oscillation frequency of the clock source; setting the second counter to start a count from a start; determining when the first counter has counted a reference count; and providing as a circuit speed, a value indicative of a count value produced by the second counter at about the moment when first counter finishes counting the count interval.