Critical-Path Timing Detection via Data Injection in Microelectronic Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microelectronic circuits face challenges in detecting timing events on delay-critical processing paths due to individual variations in manufactured circuits and software usage patterns, leading to inefficient monitoring and power consumption, especially when data sequences are constant, which hampers the effectiveness of existing monitor circuits and complicates testability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of controllable data event injection points and adaptive register circuits that allow for the generation and propagation of digital value changes on delay-critical paths, enabling timing event detection without disrupting normal operation, and integrating with advanced voltage scaling and Design-For-Testability (DFT) compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If monitor circuits are placed after all circuit elements to ensure complete timing event detection, then detection coverage is improved, but circuit area and operating power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing monitor circuits selectively only after circuit elements that are actually used in executed software, rather than uniformly after all circuit elements. This targeted monitoring approach maintains detection coverage for critical timing events while reducing the total number of monitor circuits needed, thereby decreasing circuit area consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the monitoring configuration adaptive to software execution patterns. The system dynamically identifies which processing paths are currently active and enables monitoring only for those paths, allowing the monitoring coverage to flexibly adapt to changing software usage rather than maintaining static full coverage.
2Reliability
If monitor circuits are placed after all circuit elements to ensure complete timing event detection, then detection coverage is improved, but operating power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces operating power by enabling monitor circuits only in local regions where timing event detection is currently needed, based on active software processing paths. Instead of keeping all monitor circuits continuously active, the system selectively activates only those monitors corresponding to currently executed code paths, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining detection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts power consumption by correlating monitor circuit activation with software execution state. When software changes processing paths, the monitoring configuration adapts accordingly, activating monitors only when and where timing event detection is necessary, thereby optimizing power usage based on actual operational needs.
3Ease of manufacture
If delay distribution analysis is used to identify critical circuit elements, then monitor placement efficiency is improved, but individual circuit variations and software usage patterns cause timing events to occur on non-critical paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static monitor placement based on delay distribution analysis to dynamic monitor activation based on actual software execution. The system continuously adapts to identify which processing paths are currently active and enables monitoring for those paths, ensuring detection accuracy matches actual runtime behavior rather than relying on pre-manufacturing statistical analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using information about actual software execution patterns to guide monitor activation decisions. Rather than relying solely on pre-computed delay distributions, the system observes which processing paths are actually taken during operation and adjusts monitoring accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that improves detection accuracy based on real-world usage feedback.
4Use of energy by stationary object
If processing paths are selectively activated based on software usage, then power consumption is reduced, but timing events on inactive paths go undetected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively identifying and activating monitor circuits for processing paths that are likely to become active based on software analysis, even before timing events occur. The system prepares the monitoring infrastructure in advance for expected execution paths, ensuring that when software does execute those paths, the monitors are already active and ready to detect timing events immediately.
Data Source
AI summary
A microelectronic circuit comprises a plurality of logic units and register circuits arranged into a plurality of processing paths. At least one monitor circuit (404) is associated with a first register circuit (301), said monitor circuit (404) being configured to produce a timing event observation signal as a response to a change in a digital value at an input (D) of the first register circuit (301) that took place later than an allowable time limit defined by a triggering signal (CP) to said first register circuit (301). A first processing path goes through a first logic unit (501) to said first register circuit (301) and is a delay critical processing path due to an amount of delay that it is likely to generate. The microelectronic circuit comprises a controllable data event injection point (503) for controllably generating a change of a digital value propagating to said first logic unit (501) irrespective of what other data is processed on said first processing path. Said microelectronic circuit is configured to freeze a first digital value stored in said first register circuit (301) for a time during which the change generated through said controllable data event injection point (503) propagates to said first register circuit.