Apparatus and method for reducing power consumption by an integrated circuit

An integrated circuit for use in determining a power supply voltage level for the integrated circuit, comprising:

• an expected count determinator operative to determine an expected count value of a configured programmable oscillator for a target frequency value of operation for the integrated circuit;
• a voltage determinator operative to determine a power supply voltage level and to provide a power supply voltage set at the determined power supply voltage level to the integrated circuit;
• a programmable ring oscillator controller operative to generate a programmable ring oscillator control signal based on the determined power supply voltage and to configure a programmable ring oscillator based on the programmable ring oscillator control signal, a comparator operative to read a sensor count value at the conclusion of a predetermined period of time and to compare the sensor count value with the expected count value, wherein the sensor count value represents the frequency of operation of the configured, programmable ring oscillator, and
• wherein the voltage determinator is operative to adjust or maintain the power supply voltage level based on the comparison of the sensor count value with the expected count value.

A method for determining a power supply voltage level for an integrated circuit, comprising:

• determining an expected count value of a configured programmable ring oscillator for the target frequency value;
• determining a power supply voltage level;
• configuring a programmable ring oscillator of the programmable hardware process sensor based on the determined power supply voltage level;
• providing a power supply voltage set at the determined power supply voltage level to the integrated circuit;
• reading a sensor count value at the conclusion of a predetermined period of time, wherein the sensor count value represents the frequency of operation of the configured, programmable ring oscillator;
• comparing the sensor count value with the expected count value;
• adjusting or maintaining the power supply voltage level based on the comparison of the sensor count value with the expected count value.

A device comprising:

• an integrated circuit for use in determining a power supply voltage level for the integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit comprises:
• an energy controller operably coupled to a programmable hardware sensor, wherein the energy controller is operative to configure the programmable hardware process sensor based on a power supply voltage level,
• wherein the programmable hardware process sensor is operative to generate a sensor count value that represents a frequency of operation of the configured, programmable hardware process sensor after having been driven at the power supply voltage level for a predetermined period of time, and
• wherein the energy controller is operative to compare the sensor count value with an expected count value to determine whether the power supply voltage level can be adjusted to reduce power consumption by the integrated circuit.