Chip performance monitoring system and method

A chip performance monitoring system comprising:

• a performance monitor on an integrated circuit chip and outputting a performance monitor output signal having a performance monitor output signal frequency;
• a scan chain on said chip;
• a multiplexer electrically connected between said performance monitor and an input node of said scan chain, said multiplexer selectively applying said performance monitor output signal to said input node and said scan chain propagating said performance monitor output signal;
• a variable clock signal generator on said chip and generating different clock signals having different clock signal frequencies for controlling signal propagation timing through said scan chain within different time periods such that, during said different time periods, different data outputs with different data output frequencies are output at an output node of said scan chain, said different clock signal frequencies each being less than twice said performance monitor output signal frequency;
• and
• a processor electrically connected to said output node, said processor measuring said different data output frequencies of said different data outputs at said output node during said different time periods and determining said performance monitor output signal frequency based on said different data output frequencies given said different clock signal frequencies.

A chip performance monitoring method comprising:

• receiving, by a processor, different data outputs captured at an output node of a scan chain on an integrated circuit chip at different time periods during propagation of a performance monitor output signal through said scan chain from an input node and to said output node, said different time periods corresponding to when timing of said propagation is controlled by different clock signals having different clock signal frequencies;
• determining, by said processor, different data output frequencies of said different data outputs;
• and
• determining, by said processor, a performance monitor output signal frequency of said performance monitor output signal based on said different data output frequencies given said different clock signal frequencies.

A computer program product comprising a tangible computer readable storage device, said tangible computer readable storage device storing program code, said program code being executable by a computer to perform a chip performance monitoring method, said chip performance monitoring method comprising:

• receiving different data outputs captured at an output node of a scan chain on an integrated circuit chip at different time periods during propagation of a performance monitor output signal through said scan chain from an input node to said output node, said different time periods corresponding to when timing of said propagation is controlled by different clock signals having different clock signal frequencies;
• determining different data output frequencies of said different data outputs;
• and
• determining a performance monitor output signal frequency of said performance monitor output signal based on said different data output frequencies given said different clock signal frequencies.