IP Library Granted Patent US 12,379,698
Granted Patent B2
US 12,379,698 · App. 17/559,360 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Systems and methods to reduce voltage guardband

Inventors: Mahesh K. Kumashikar (Bangalore, IN); Md Altaf Hossain (Portland, OR); Mahesh A. Iyer (Fremont, CA); Yuet Li (Fremont, CA); Atul Maheshwari (Portland, OR); Ankireddy Nalamalpu (Portland, OR)
Assignee: Altera Corporation
G05B19/042G05B2219/21155
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,379,698
App. No.
17/559,360
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems or methods of the present disclosure may provide efficient power consumption for programmable logic devices based on reducing guardband voltages. A programmable logic device may include circuit monitors to mimic critical paths of an implemented circuit design and generate timing information based on the critical paths. A controller on the programmable logic device may adjust the voltage guardband based on the timing information.

Claims (59)

1. A system, comprising:

a processor that:

receives a circuit design;

identifies one or more critical paths based on the circuit design;

identifies one or more unused portions of programmable logic of a programmable logic device based on the circuit design;

generates one or more circuit monitors that mimic the one or more critical paths; and

compiles the circuit design and the one or more circuit monitors into configuration data, wherein the configuration data is transmitted to the programmable logic device; and

the programmable logic device comprising a controller that:

programs a plurality of programmable logic elements to implement the configuration data, wherein the one or more unused portions of the programmable logic for the circuit design are programmed to implement the one or more circuit monitors; and

adjusts a voltage guardband of the programmable logic device based on the one or more circuit monitors.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller programs the plurality of programmable logic elements to implement a flip-flop to mimic at least a portion of the one or more critical paths.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller adjusts the voltage guardband based on the flip-flop.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more circuit monitors generate timing information associated with the one or more critical paths.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller:

receives the timing information; and

adjusts the voltage guardband based on the timing information.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor generates one or more circuit oscillators that toggle one or more logic components disposed in the one or more unused portions of the programmable logic.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor compiles the one or more circuit oscillators into the configuration data.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more unused portions implement the one or more circuit oscillators.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the controller:

compiles the one or more circuit oscillators into additional configuration data; and

reprograms the plurality of programmable logic elements to implement the additional configuration data.

10. A system, comprising:

one or more computer-readable medium storing instructions;

a processor that, when executing first instructions of the instructions, is to:

receive a circuit design;

identify one or more critical paths based on the circuit design;

identify one or more unused portions of programmable logic of a programmable logic device based on the circuit design;

generate one or more circuit monitors that mimic the one or more critical paths; and

compile the circuit design and the one or more circuit monitors into configuration data, wherein the configuration data is transmitted to the programmable logic device; and

the programmable logic device comprising a plurality of programmable logic elements and a controller that, when executing second instructions of the instructions, is to:

program the plurality of programmable logic elements to implement the configuration data, wherein the one or more unused portions of the programmable logic for the circuit design are programmed to implement the one or more circuit monitors; and

adjust a voltage guardband of the programmable logic device based on the one or more circuit monitors.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller, when executing the second instructions, is to program the plurality of programmable logic elements to implement a flip-flop to mimic at least a portion of the one or more critical paths.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller, when executing the second instructions, is to adjust the voltage guardband based on the flip-flop.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more circuit monitors implemented in the plurality of programmable logic elements generate timing information associated with the one or more critical paths.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller, when executing the second instructions, is to:

receive the timing information; and

adjust the voltage guardband based on the timing information.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor, when executing the first instructions, is to generate one or more circuit oscillators that toggle one or more logic components disposed in the one or more unused portions of the programmable logic.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor, when executing the first instructions, is to compile the one or more circuit oscillators into the configuration data.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more unused portions implement the one or more circuit oscillators.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the controller, when executing the second instructions, is to:

compile the one or more circuit oscillators into additional configuration data; and

reprogram the plurality of programmable logic elements to implement the additional configuration data.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a circuit design;

identifying, by the processor, one or more critical paths based on the circuit design;

identifying, by the processor, one or more unused portions of programmable logic of a programmable logic device based on the circuit design;

generating, by the processor, one or more circuit monitors that mimic the one or more critical paths;

compiling, by the processor, the circuit design and the one or more circuit monitors into configuration data, wherein the configuration data is transmitted to the programmable logic device;

programming, by controller of the programmable logic device, a plurality of programmable logic elements of the programmable logic device to implement the configuration data, wherein the one or more unused portions of the programmable logic for the circuit design are programmed to implement the one or more circuit monitors; and

adjusting, by the controller, a voltage guardband of the programmable logic device based on the one or more circuit monitors.

20. The method of claim 19 , comprising:

compiling, by the controller, the one or more circuit monitors into additional configuration data; and

reprogramming, by the controller, the plurality of programmable logic elements to implement the additional configuration data.

21. The method of claim 19 , comprising:

programming, by the controller, the plurality of programmable logic elements to implement a flip-flop to mimic at least a portion of the one or more critical paths; and

adjusting, by the controller, the voltage guardband based on the flip-flop.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2025
From: ALTERA CORPORATION
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073431/0309 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2024
From: INTEL CORPORATION
To: ALTERA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066353/0886 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2021
From: KUMASHIKAR, MAHESH K.; HOSSAIN, MD ALTAF; IYER, MAHESH; LI, YUET; MAHESHWARI, ATUL; NALAMALPU, ANIKIREDDY
To: INTEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058498/0200 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220113694A1 · Apr 14, 2022
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