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 in a first integrated circuit;
• generating a select signal with a first multiplexer circuit in the control circuit based on the feedback signal indicating activity in the channel;
• providing first oscillations in a first clock signal through a second multiplexer circuit to an output clock signal in response to the select signal indicating that the channel is active;
• providing the output clock signal comprising the first oscillations from the first integrated circuit through a connection external to the first integrated circuit to the channel in a second integrated circuit;
• providing second oscillations in a second clock signal through the second multiplexer circuit to the output clock signal 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;
• and
• providing the output clock signal comprising the second oscillations from the first integrated circuit through the connection external to the first integrated circuit to the channel in the second integrated circuit.

A circuit system comprising:

• a first integrated circuit comprising a transceiver circuit that comprises a channel;
• and
• a second integrated circuit comprising a first multiplexer circuit and a clock protection control circuit, wherein the first multiplexer circuit is coupled to provide an output clock signal to the channel through a connection between the first and the second integrated circuits,
• wherein the clock protection control circuit causes the first multiplexer circuit to provide a first clock signal as the output clock signal through the connection to the channel 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, and wherein the clock protection control circuit causes the first multiplexer circuit to provide a second clock signal as the output clock signal through the connection to the channel in response to the feedback signal indicating that the channel is active.