Multiple status e-fuse based non-volatile voltage control oscillator configured for process variation compensation, an associated method and an associated design structure

A method for operating a voltage controlled oscillator, said method comprising:

• providing a voltage controlled oscillator comprising an inductor-capacitor (LC) tank circuit adapted to receive a first voltage and at least one varactor connected in parallel with said inductor-capacitor (LC) tank circuit and adapted to receive a second voltage, wherein said voltage controlled oscillator is further adapted to output a periodic signal a having a frequency that is a function of said first voltage and said second voltage;
• determining if said frequency is within a predetermined frequency range;
• and
• if said frequency is outside said predetermined frequency range, selectively programming resistance in a variable resistance e-fuse electrically connected to said at least one varactor so as to selectively adjust said second voltage at said at least one varactor, so as to selectively adjust capacitance of said at least one varactor, and further so as to bring said frequency to within said predetermined frequency range.

A method for operating a voltage controlled oscillator, said method comprising:

• providing a voltage controlled oscillator comprising an inductor-capacitor (LC) tank circuit adapted to receive a first voltage and at least one varactor connected in parallel with said inductor-capacitor (LC) tank circuit and adapted to receive a second voltage, wherein said voltage controlled oscillator is further adapted to output a periodic signal a having a frequency that is a function of said first voltage and said second voltage;
• determining if said frequency is within a predetermined frequency range;
• and
• if said frequency is outside said predetermined frequency range, selectively programming resistance in a variable resistance e-fuse electrically connected to said at least one varactor so as to selectively adjust said second voltage at said at least one varactor, so as to selectively adjust capacitance of said at least one varactor, and further so as to bring said frequency to within said predetermined frequency range,
• wherein said determining if said frequency is within said predetermined frequency range comprises:
• determining a period of said periodic signal;
• converting said period into an output voltage;
• and
• determining if said output voltage is within a predetermined voltage range, and
• wherein said selectively programming said resistance comprises selectively adjusting said second voltage, when said output voltage is outside said predetermined voltage range, so as to bring said frequency to within said predetermined frequency range.

A method for operating a voltage controlled oscillator, said method comprising:

• providing a voltage controlled oscillator comprising an inductor-capacitor (LC) tank circuit adapted to receive a first voltage and at least one varactor connected in parallel with said inductor-capacitor (LC) tank circuit and adapted to receive a second voltage, wherein said voltage controlled oscillator is further adapted to output a periodic signal a having a frequency that is a function of said first voltage and said second voltage;
• determining if said frequency is within a predetermined frequency range;
• and
• if said frequency is outside said predetermined frequency range, selectively programming resistance in a variable resistance e-fuse electrically connected to said at least one varactor so as to selectively adjust said second voltage at said at least one varactor, so as to selectively adjust capacitance of said at least one varactor, and further so as to bring said frequency to within said predetermined frequency range,
• wherein said variable resistance e-fuse comprises:
• a conductor;
• a plurality of series connected resistors;
• a plurality of contacts on said conductor connected to said plurality of said series connected resistors;
• a first sensing node and a second sensing node on opposite ends of said series connected resistors, wherein said first said sensing node is electrically connected to said at least one varactor for applying said second voltage to said at least one varactor and said second sensing node is electrically connected to ground;
• and
• a first programming node and a second programming node on opposite ends of said conductor, and
• wherein said selectively programming said resistance further comprises selectively controlling current flow through said conductor between said first programming node and said second programming node such that said contacts one of become opens in sequence to increase said resistance and revert back to shorts in sequence to decrease said resistance.