Granted Patent B2

US 7,739,573 · App. 11/621,766 · Granted Jun 15, 2010

Abstract

Claims (88)

1. A method for sorting voltage identifiers for a processor, the method comprising:

determining, using a semiconductor testing system, an acceptable range of voltage identifiers;

identifying, using the semiconductor testing system, a lowest voltage identifier from the acceptable range of voltage identifiers that passes a functionality test;

identifying, using the semiconductor testing system, a highest voltage identifier from the acceptable range of voltage identifiers that passes a maximum thermal design point power test and a maximum current test; and

if both the lowest voltage identifier and the highest voltage identifier are found, selecting a voltage identifier between the lowest voltage identifier and the highest voltage identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining an acceptable range of voltage identifiers comprises:

determining an initial voltage based on a ring oscillator speed; and

measuring a first current at the initial voltage, where the initial voltage and the first current form a first point;

calculating a maximum power voltage at the maximum acceptable power based on the first current;

measuring a second current at the maximum power voltage plus a guardband value, wherein the maximum power voltage and the second current form a second point; and

determining a current versus voltage equation based on the first point and the second point.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying a lowest voltage identifier that passes a functionality test comprises:

selecting a minimum voltage identifier as a test voltage identifier;

determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the functionality test; and

if the test voltage identifier passes the functionality test, selecting the test voltage identifier as the lowest voltage identifier.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the functionality test comprises:

determining a current versus voltage curve for the processor;

determining a voltage regulator module loadline for the test voltage identifier;

determining a test voltage at which the voltage regulator module loadline crosses the current versus voltage curve for the processor;

subtracting a guardband value from the test voltage to provide a minimum functional test voltage; and

testing functionality of the processor at the minimum functional test voltage.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein identifying a lowest voltage identifier that passes a functionality test further comprises:

if the test voltage identifier does not pass the functionality test, selecting a next higher voltage identifier as the test voltage identifier; and

determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the functionality test.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying a highest voltage identifier from the acceptable range of voltage identifiers that passes a maximum thermal design point power test and a maximum current test comprises:

selecting a maximum voltage identifier as a test voltage identifier;

determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the maximum thermal design point power test; and

if the test voltage identifier does not pass the maximum thermal design point power test, selecting a next lower voltage identifier as the test voltage identifier; and

repeating the determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the maximum thermal design point power test until a test voltage identifier passes the maximum thermal design point power test.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein identifying a highest voltage identifier from the acceptable range of voltage identifiers that passes a maximum thermal design point power test and a maximum current test further comprises:

responsive to a test voltage identifier passing the maximum thermal design point power test, determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the maximum current test; and

if the test voltage identifier passes the maximum current test, selecting the test voltage identifier as the highest voltage identifier.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein identifying a highest voltage identifier from the acceptable range of voltage identifiers that passes a maximum thermal design point power test and a maximum current test comprises:

if the test voltage identifier does not pass the maximum current test, selecting a next lower voltage identifier as the test voltage identifier; and

repeating the maximum current test until a test voltage identifier passes the maximum current test.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

fusing the selected voltage identifier in voltage identifier logic in the processor.

10. A data processing system for sorting voltage identifiers for a processor, the data processing system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory contains instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

determine an acceptable range of voltage identifiers;

identify a lowest voltage identifier from the acceptable range of voltage identifiers that passes a functionality test;

identify a highest voltage identifier from the acceptable range of voltage identifiers that passes a maximum thermal design point power test and a maximum current test; and

if both the lowest voltage identifier and the highest voltage identifier are found, select a voltage identifier between the lowest voltage identifier and the highest voltage identifier.

11. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein determining an acceptable range of voltage identifiers comprises:

determining an initial voltage based on a ring oscillator speed; and

measuring a first current at the initial voltage, where the initial voltage and the first current form a first point;

calculating a maximum power voltage at the maximum acceptable power based on the first current;

measuring a second current at the maximum power voltage plus a guardband value, wherein the maximum power voltage and the second current form a second point; and

determining a current versus voltage equation based on the first point and the second point.

12. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein identifying a lowest voltage identifier that passes a functionality test comprises:

selecting a minimum voltage identifier as a test voltage identifier;

determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the functionality test; and

if the test voltage identifier passes the functionality test, selecting the test voltage identifier as the lowest voltage identifier.

13. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein identifying a highest voltage identifier from the acceptable range of voltage identifiers that passes a maximum thermal design point power test and a maximum current test comprises:

selecting a maximum voltage identifier as a test voltage identifier;

determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the maximum thermal design point power test; and

if the test voltage identifier does not pass the maximum thermal design point power test, selecting a next lower voltage identifier as the test voltage identifier; and

repeating the determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the maximum thermal design point power test until a test voltage identifier passes the maximum thermal design point power test.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:

determine an acceptable range of voltage identifiers;

identify a lowest voltage identifier from the acceptable range of voltage identifiers that passes a functionality test;

identify a highest voltage identifier from the acceptable range of voltage identifiers that passes a maximum thermal design point power test and a maximum current test; and

if both the lowest voltage identifier and the highest voltage identifier are found, select a voltage identifier between the lowest voltage identifier and the highest voltage identifier.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein determining an acceptable range of voltage identifiers comprises:

determining an initial voltage based on a ring oscillator speed; and

measuring a first current at the initial voltage, where the initial voltage and the first current form a first point;

calculating a maximum power voltage at the maximum acceptable power based on the first current;

measuring a second current at the maximum power voltage plus a guardband value, wherein the maximum power voltage and the second current form a second point; and

determining a current versus voltage equation based on the first point and the second point.

16. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein identifying a lowest voltage identifier that passes a functionality test comprises:

selecting a minimum voltage identifier as a test voltage identifier;

determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the functionality test; and

if the test voltage identifier passes the functionality test, selecting the test voltage identifier as the lowest voltage identifier.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein identifying a lowest voltage identifier that passes a functionality test further comprises:

if the test voltage identifier does not pass the functionality test, selecting a next higher voltage identifier as the test voltage identifier; and

determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the functionality test.

18. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein identifying a highest voltage identifier from the acceptable range of voltage identifiers that passes a maximum thermal design point power test and a maximum current test comprises:

selecting a maximum voltage identifier as a test voltage identifier;

determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the maximum thermal design point power test; and

if the test voltage identifier does not pass the maximum thermal design point power test, selecting a next lower voltage identifier as the test voltage identifier; and

repeating the determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the maximum thermal design point power test until a test voltage identifier passes the maximum thermal design point power test.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein identifying a highest voltage identifier from the acceptable range of voltage identifiers that passes a maximum thermal design point power test and a maximum current test further comprises:

responsive to a test voltage identifier passing the maximum thermal design point power test, determining whether the test voltage identifier passes the maximum current test; and

if the test voltage identifier passes the maximum current test, selecting the test voltage identifier as the highest voltage identifier.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein identifying a highest voltage identifier from the acceptable range of voltage identifiers that passes a maximum thermal design point power test and a maximum current test comprises:

if the test voltage identifier does not pass the maximum current test, selecting a next lower voltage identifier as the test voltage identifier; and

repeating the maximum current test until a test voltage identifier passes the maximum current test.

Assignments (8)