초록 ▼

An operating parameter of an integrated circuit is made substantially insensitive to process variations by configuring the circuit such that an environmental parameter, e.g., supply voltage to a portion of the circuit, is made a function of one or more process parameters, e.g., conduction threshold

An operating parameter of an integrated circuit is made substantially insensitive to process variations by configuring the circuit such that an environmental parameter, e.g., supply voltage to a portion of the circuit, is made a function of one or more process parameters, e.g., conduction threshold voltages and mobilities in that portion of the circuit. In this manner, the effect of the process parameters on the circuit operating parameter may be partially or substantially offset by the effect of the process parameters on the environmental parameter. In an illustrative embodiment, the circuit operating parameter is an oscillation period of a ring oscillator. A voltage regulator generates a reference voltage which is determined at least in part based on known process parameter variations in the ring oscillator. The ring oscillator utilizes the reference voltage generated by the voltage regulator as its supply voltage, and its oscillation period is thereby made insensitive to the process parameter variations. In addition, back-bias effects may be introduced in the voltage regulator to compensate back-bias effects resulting from particular configurations of the ring oscillator. The design techniques of the invention may be applied to a wide variety of different types of integrated circuits, operating parameters, environmental parameters and process parameters.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of manufacturing a circuit, wherein an operating parameter of the circuit varies as a function f1 of at least one process parameter and at least one environmental parameter, the method comprising the step of:configuring the circuit such that the environmental parameter is a function f2 o

1. A method of manufacturing a circuit, wherein an operating parameter of the circuit varies as a function f1 of at least one process parameter and at least one environmental parameter, the method comprising the step of:configuring the circuit such that the environmental parameter is a function f2 of the process parameter, by preselection of the function f2 based at least in part on a known characteristic of the function f1 and without the use of feedback control of the environmental parameter based on detection of the process parameter, wherein the effect of the process parameter on the circuit operating parameter is at least partially offset by the effect of the process parameter on the environmental parameter.