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. 16, 2010
Filed:
Apr. 03, 2008
J. Adam Butts, Hartsdale, NY (US);
Gary S. Ditlow, Garrison, NY (US);
Stephen V. Kosonocky, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Brian C. Monwai, Austin, TX (US);
J. Adam Butts, Hartsdale, NY (US);
Gary S. Ditlow, Garrison, NY (US);
Stephen V. Kosonocky, Fort Collins, CO (US);
Brian C. Monwai, Austin, TX (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A circuit incorporating a current starved ring oscillator is coupled to a power gate switch in an integrated circuit. The circuit incorporating the current starved ring oscillator amplifies a voltage difference between a virtual ground associated with the power gate switch and ground, and converts the difference to a frequency. Digital logic monitors the output of the ring oscillator using a counter and a reference clock. Control circuitry controls operation of the integrated circuit in dependence on the monitored conditions associated with the power gate switch. A method monitors a virtual ground voltage across a power gate switch in an integrated circuit; and controls operation of the integrated circuit in dependence on the monitored virtual ground voltage.