ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A CIRCUIT IN A STANDBY MODE AND IN AN OPERATIONAL MODE
A method and an electronic circuit, the electronic circuit includes: a first circuit; a leakage measurement circuit arranged to determine a leakage level of the first circuit when the first circuit is in a standby mode, and to determine an information maintenance level of a supply voltage in response to the leakage level; and a voltage supply circuit arranged to provide to the first circuit a supply voltage of a functional level when the first circuit is in a functional mode, and to provide to the first circuit a supply voltage of the information maintenance level when the first circuit is in the standby mode; wherein the first circuit is arranged to maintain information when provided with the supply voltage of the information maintenance level.
1 . An electronic circuit, comprising:
a first circuit having a functional mode and a standby mode;
a leakage measurement circuit connected to the first circuit, for determining a leakage level of the first circuit when the first circuit is in a standby mode, and to determine an information maintenance level of a supply voltage, suitable for the first circuit to maintain information in the standby mode, at least partial based on the determined leakage level; and
a voltage supply circuit connected to the first circuit to provide a supply voltage of a functional level when the first circuit is in the functional mode, and to provide to the first circuit a supply voltage of the information maintenance level when the first circuit is in the standby mode;
2 . The electronic circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the leakage measurement circuit is arranged to determine the information maintenance level based on a mapping between leakage levels and information maintenance levels.
3 . The electronic circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage supply circuit is arranged to provide a voltage supply of an initial level when the first circuit enters the standby mode and to reduce the level of the supply level until reaching the information maintenance level.
4 . The electronic circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the leakage measurement circuit is arranged to measure the leakage of the first circuit when the first circuit is in the standby mode.
5 . The electronic circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the leakage measurement circuit is arranged to estimate the leakage of the first circuit when the first circuit is in the standby mode.
6 . The electronic circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor arranged measure a temperature of the first circuit and to provide to the leakage measurement circuit temperature information about the temperature of the first circuit; wherein the leakage measurement circuit is arranged to determine the information maintenance level in response to the temperature information.
7 . The electronic circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the information maintenance level is a minimal level of the supply voltage that allows the first circuit to maintain the information at a current temperature of the first circuit.
8 . The electronic circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the information maintenance level is a minimal level of the supply voltage that allows the first circuit to maintain the information regardless of a temperature of the first circuit.
9 . A method for operating a first circuit having a functional mode and a standby mode, the method comprising:
determining, by a leakage measurement circuit, a leakage level of the first circuit when the first circuit is in the standby mode;
determining, by the leakage measurement circuit, an information maintenance level of a supply voltage, suitable for the first circuit to maintain information in the standby mode, at least partial based on the determined leakage level;
determining whether the first circuit should enter a functional mode or should enter a standby node;
when the first circuit should enter the standby mode:
providing to the first circuit a supply voltage of the information maintenance level; and
maintaining information stored in the first circuit; when the first circuit should enter the functional mode:
providing to the first circuit a supply voltage of a functional level; and
operating the first circuit in the functional mode.
10 . The method according to claim 9 , comprising determining the information maintenance level based on a mapping between leakage levels and information maintenance levels.
11 . The method according to claim 9 , comprising providing a voltage supply of an initial level when the first circuit enters the standby mode and reducing the level of the supply level until reaching the information maintenance level.
12 . The method according to claim 9 , comprising measuring the leakage of the first circuit when the first circuit is in the standby mode.
13 . The method according to claim 9 , comprising estimating the leakage of the first circuit when the first circuit is in the standby mode.
14 . The method according to claim 9 , comprising measuring a temperature of the first circuit, providing temperature information about the temperature of the first circuit; and determining the information maintenance level in response to the temperature information.
15 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the information maintenance level is a minimal level of the supply voltage that allows the first circuit to maintain the information at a current temperature of the first circuit.
16 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the information maintenance level is a minimal level of the supply voltage that allows the first circuit to maintain the information regardless of a temperature of the first circuit.
17 . The method according to claim 9 , comprising determining the information maintenance level of the supply voltage each time the first circuit enters the standby mode.
18 . The method according to claim 9 , comprising determining the information maintenance level of the supply voltage during a manufacturing process of the first circuit.