Method for determining programmable coefficients to replicate frequency and supply voltage correlation in an integrated circuit

A system for providing programmable coefficients comprising:

• a delay replication circuit having a plurality of basic delay elements, a
• delay of the delay replication circuit having a linear dependence with the programmable coefficients;
• and a control circuit for:
• (1) measuring a maximum operating frequency in an
• integrated circuit at each of a plurality of operating voltages;
• (2) measuring delay associated with the basic delay elements at the plurality of operating voltages;
• (3) using linear programming and integer programming to determine the programmable coefficients with a predetermined error margin;
• and (4) using the programmable coefficients as control signals to select an amount of programmable delay to be used in the delay replication circuit.

A method for determining programmable coefficients for use in a delay replication circuit, comprising:

• measuring a maximum operating frequency in an integrated circuit at each of a plurality of operating voltages;
• providing the delay replication circuit having a plurality of basic delay elements, a delay of the delay replication circuit having a linear dependence with the programmable coefficients by having groups of delay elements, each of the delay elements within each group having substantially equal physical and electrical properties;
• measuring delay associated with the basic delay elements at the plurality of operating voltages;
• using linear programming and integer programming to determine the programmable coefficients with a predetermined error margin;
• and
• using the programmable coefficients as control signals to select an amount of programmable delay to be used in the delay replication circuit