Monitor circuit to determine integrated circuit condition based on diagnostic code sequence
Aspects relate to monitoring timing margin of logic paths and its degradation through an integrated circuit. In one example an apparatus includes an integrated circuit having a logic path formed in the integrated circuit and a monitor circuit formed in the integrated circuit. The monitor circuit is configured to monitor a condition of the logic path and to generate a diagnostic code sequence to indicate the condition of the logic path over time. A monitor controller is configured to receive diagnostic codes of the diagnostic code sequence, to store the diagnostic codes in a log with a corresponding time stamp and to determine a condition of the integrated circuit based on the diagnostic code sequence.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
an integrated circuit having a logic path formed in the integrated circuit;
a monitor circuit formed in the integrated circuit, the monitor circuit being configured to monitor a condition of the logic path and to generate a diagnostic code sequence to indicate the condition of the logic path over time; and
a monitor controller configured to receive diagnostic codes of the diagnostic code sequence, to store the diagnostic codes in a log with a corresponding time stamp when a code of the diagnostic code sequence exceeds a marginality threshold and to determine a condition of the integrated circuit based on the diagnostic codes.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the monitor controller is configured to store the diagnostic codes in the log with one or more of timing margin code, time stamp, voltage, frequency, and a use case.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a second monitor circuit formed in the integrated circuit, the second monitor circuit being configured to generate a second diagnostic code to indicate the conditions of the logic path and wherein the monitor controller is configured to aggregate the first diagnostic code and the second diagnostic code.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the monitor controller is configured to generate a health signal in response to the diagnostic codes and to send the health signal to a higher layer.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the monitor controller is configured to compare the health signal to a health threshold and to send the health signal to the higher layer in response to the health signal crossing the health threshold.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the crossing the health threshold comprises detecting a lower timing margin.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
the log to store the diagnostic codes; and
an external data port,
wherein the log is accessible through the external data port.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the monitor controller is coupled to an external safety management control unit through the external data port and wherein the monitor controller is configured to send the condition of the integrated circuit to the external safety management control unit through the external data port.
9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the monitor controller is configured to receive a shutdown, or reduced functionality command from the external safety management control unit.
10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the external safety management control unit comprises a functional safety system controller coupled to the log through the external data port, wherein the external safety management control unit is configured to analyze the diagnostic code sequence and to predict maintenance.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the monitor controller is configured to generate a user notification in response to the diagnostic code sequence.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the user notification is an interrupt.
13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the user notification is sent to an external display.
14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the user notification is sent through a radio interface to a maintenance facility.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the monitor controller is configured to determine an error condition of the integrated circuit and wherein the user notification indicates that a system associated with the IC is not operational.
16 . A method comprising:
monitoring a condition of a logic path formed in an integrated circuit at a monitor circuit formed in the integrated circuit near the logic path;
generating a diagnostic code sequence to indicate the condition of the logic path over time;
storing diagnostic codes of the diagnostic code sequence in a log with a corresponding time stamp when a code of the diagnostic code sequence exceeds a marginality threshold; and
determining a condition of the integrated circuit based on the diagnostic code sequence.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
generating a health signal in response to the diagnostic codes;
comparing the health signal to a health threshold; and
sending the health signal to a higher layer in response to the health signal crossing the health threshold.
18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions that when executed by the machine cause the machine to perform operations including:
monitoring a condition of a logic path formed in an integrated circuit at a monitor circuit formed in the integrated circuit near the logic path;
generating a diagnostic code sequence to indicate the condition of the logic path over time;
storing diagnostic codes of the diagnostic code sequence in a log with a corresponding time stamp when a code of the diagnostic code sequence exceeds a marginality threshold; and
determining a condition of the integrated circuit based on the diagnostic code sequence.
19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , the operations further comprising:
receiving a shutdown command in response to the condition of the logic path; and
initiating a complete shutdown of one or all systems of the IC.