Dynamic Voltage Adjustment for Wearout Mitigation in Electronic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices, particularly semiconductor devices, are susceptible to wearout effects such as negative bias temperature instability (NBTI), time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB), hot carriers injection (HCI), and electromigration (EM), which lead to increased latency and require adaptation of operating parameters over their lifetime.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device comprising a time estimator and a controller that adapt the operating voltage based on the accumulated on-state time of a second component, allowing for dynamic adjustment of the operating parameter to mitigate wearout effects without explicit detection of these phenomena.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the operating voltage is increased to compensate for wearout effects, then the device reliability is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the operating voltage based on the accumulated on-state time of components. The controller continuously monitors the operational duration and adapts the voltage level in real-time, transitioning from a static voltage approach to a dynamic one that responds to actual wearout progression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent proactively increases the operating voltage before significant performance degradation occurs by monitoring accumulated on-state time. This preliminary action prevents latency increases and performance loss rather than reacting after wearout effects manifest.
Solution Approach 3:
The patent changes the operating voltage parameter as a function of accumulated operational time. By adjusting this critical parameter based on wearout progression, the system maintains optimal performance while minimizing unnecessary power consumption that would result from continuously high voltage.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the operating voltage is continuously high to account for wearout, then the device lifetime is extended, but the power consumption increases throughout operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts voltage based on actual wearout progression rather than maintaining a continuously high voltage. This extends device lifetime by applying voltage compensation only when necessary, while minimizing power consumption during early operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent continuously monitors accumulated on-state time and continuously adjusts the operating voltage accordingly. This continuous adaptation ensures optimal balance between extending device lifetime and minimizing power consumption at each moment of operation.
3Measurement precision
If explicit detection of wearout phenomena is implemented, then the response accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses accumulated on-state time as an intermediary parameter to estimate wearout progression without directly measuring complex wearout phenomena. This time-based proxy simplifies the system while providing sufficient accuracy for adaptive voltage control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex physical wearout detection mechanisms with a simpler time-based estimation approach. By substituting direct wearout measurement with accumulated on-state time tracking, the system achieves practical wearout compensation with minimal added complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic device (10) comprises a first component (12) susceptible to a wearout effect, operation of which first component (12) depends on an operating parameter (V1), and a second component (14) having an on-state and an off-state. The electronic device (10) further comprises a time estimator (16) for updating an estimate of an accumulated time the second component (14) was in the on-state; and a controller (18) for controlling the operating parameter on the basis of the accumulated time estimate so as to respond to the expected wearout effect. The first component (12) and the second component (14) may be the same, or the first component (12) may have an on-state correlated to the on-state of the second component (14). The operating parameter may, for example, be a level or amplitude or correction value of one of the following: a voltage applied at the first component (12), an electric current fed to the first component (12), and a power provided to the first component (12). A method of operating such an electronic device (10) is also disclosed.