Techniques for reduction of degradation in channels caused by bias temperature instability

A method for controlling a bias temperature instability protection mode in a channel, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving a feedback signal from the channel at a control circuit;
• controlling whether a first multiplexer circuit is in an automatic protection mode or in a manual protection mode in response to a first control signal using a second multiplexer circuit;
• generating a select signal with the second multiplexer circuit in the control circuit based on the feedback signal indicating activity in the channel;
• providing oscillations in a first clock signal to an output clock signal using the first multiplexer circuit in response to the select signal indicating that the channel is active, wherein the output clock signal is provided to the channel;
• and
• providing oscillations in a second clock signal to the output clock signal using the first multiplexer circuit in response to the select signal indicating that the channel is inactive to cause the channel to be in the bias temperature instability protection mode that reduces degradation from bias temperature instability.

A circuit system comprising:

• a transceiver circuit comprising a channel;
• a first multiplexer circuit coupled to provide an output clock signal to the transceiver circuit;
• and
• a clock protection control circuit that causes the first multiplexer circuit to provide a first clock signal as the output clock signal in response to a feedback signal from the channel indicating that the channel is inactive to cause the channel to be in a bias temperature instability protection mode that reduces degradation in the channel, wherein the clock protection control circuit causes the first multiplexer circuit to provide a second clock signal as the output clock signal in response to the feedback signal indicating that the channel is active, and
• wherein the clock protection control circuit comprises a second multiplexer circuit that controls whether the first multiplexer circuit is in an automatic protection mode or in a manual protection mode in response to a first control signal.