Method and apparatus for dynamically detecting environmental conditions and adjusting drive strength in response to the detecting

1. An apparatus comprising:

a dynamic power supply detector configured to detect a power-supply voltage level relative to a predetermined threshold signal during a training phase including a reading phase;

an adjustable output buffer, coupled with the dynamic power supply detector, configured to adjust output drive strength during the training phase in response to the detected power-supply voltage level; and

a pull-up driver with an adjustable drive strength to drive a high voltage signal;

a pull-down driver, coupled with the pull-up driver, with an adjustable drive strength to drive a low voltage signal; and

wherein the pull-up and the pull-down drivers adjust their drive strength, at least in part, in response to the detected power-supply voltage level.

2. An apparatus comprising:

a dynamic power supply detector configured to detect a power-supply voltage level relative to a predetermined threshold signal during a training phase including a reading phase;

an adjustable output buffer, coupled with the dynamic power supply detector, configured to adjust output drive strength during the training phase in response to the detected power-supply voltage level;

a voltage divider to divide the power-supply voltage level;

a comparator, coupled with the voltage divider, to compare the divided power-supply voltage level with the predetermined threshold signal, wherein the comparator is operable to output a digital signal; and

a latch, coupled with the comparator, to store the digital output signal during the training phase.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the dynamic power supply detector further comprises:

a switch to turn off the voltage divider and the comparator in response to storing the digital output signal by the latch.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the detected power-supply voltage level is a low-power-supply voltage level when the power-supply voltage level is below the predetermined threshold signal, and wherein the detected power-supply voltage level is a high-power-supply voltage level when the power-supply voltage level is above the predetermined threshold signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the output drive strength of the adjustable output driver is set to high drive strength in response to detecting the low power-supply voltage level, and wherein the output drive strength of the adjustable output driver is set to low drive strength in response to detecting the high-power-supply voltage level.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic power supply detector is configured to detect the power-supply voltage level during every reading phase.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic power supply detector is configured to turn off when the adjustable output driver is driving a signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a reference generator to generate the predetermined threshold signal.

9. A method comprising:

detecting a power-supply voltage level, by a power supply detector, relative to a predetermined threshold signal during a training phase including a reading phase;

adjusting output drive strength of an adjustable output buffer during the training phase in response to detecting the power-supply voltage level; and

dividing the power-supply voltage level by a voltage divider;

comparing, by a comparator, the divided power-supply voltage level with the predetermined threshold signal to generate a digital output signal; and

storing, by a latch, the digital output signal during the training phase.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

turning off the voltage divider and the comparator in response to storing the digital output signal.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein detecting the power-supply voltage level comprises:

detecting a low-power-supply voltage level when the divided power-supply voltage level is below the predetermined threshold signal; and

detecting a high-power-supply voltage level when the divided power-supply is above the predetermined threshold signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

adjusting the output drive strength to high drive strength in response to detecting the low-power-supply voltage level; and

adjusting the output drive strength to low drive strength in response to detecting the high-power-supply voltage level.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

adjusting the output drive strength on every reading phase.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

detecting the power-supply voltage level, by the dynamic power supply detector, during every reading phase; and

adjusting the output driver strength by enabling pull-up and pull-down drivers of the adjustable output driver.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

detecting a multi-level range of power supply; and

turning off the dynamic power supply detector in response to the adjustable output driver driving a signal.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising generating the predetermined threshold signal by a reference generator.

17. A method for configuring a processor, the method comprising:

detecting an environmental condition relative to a predetermined threshold signal during a training phase;

turning on a dynamic power supply detector to detect the environmental condition including a power-supply voltage level;

comparing the detected power-supply voltage level with the predetermined threshold signal to generate an output signal;

adjusting output drive strength during the training phase in response to detecting the environmental condition;

storing the output signal in a latch for adjusting the output drive strength; and

turning off the dynamic power supply detector.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the environmental condition includes:

a power-supply voltage level; and

temperature.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the dynamic power supply detector is configured to turn off in response to an adjustable output driver driving a signal.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein adjusting the output drive strength during the training phase in response to detecting the environmental condition comprises:

adjusting an adjustable output buffer.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the detecting the environmental condition further comprises:

detecting a multi-level range of a power-supply level.

22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

adjusting the output drive strength on every reading phase.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein the training phase includes a reading phase, and wherein the predetermined threshold signal is a voltage signal.

24. The method of claim 17 , further comprising generating the predetermined threshold signal by a reference generator.

25. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the detected power-supply voltage level is a low-power-supply voltage level when the power-supply voltage level is below the predetermined threshold signal, and wherein the detected power-supply voltage level is a high-power-supply voltage level when the power-supply voltage level is above the predetermined threshold signal.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the output drive strength of the adjustable output driver is set to high drive strength in response to detecting the low power-supply voltage level, and wherein the output drive strength of the adjustable output driver is set to low drive strength in response to detecting the high-power-supply voltage level.

27. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the dynamic power supply detector is configured to detect the power-supply voltage level during every reading phase.