Methods and apparatus for monitoring power gating circuitry and for controlling circuit operations in dependence on monitored power gating conditions

An integrated circuit comprising:

• logic circuitry;
• a ground rail;
• a power gate switch coupled between the logic circuitry and the ground rail, a node between the logic circuitry and the power gate switch corresponding to a virtual ground rail, the power gate switch configured to switch power to the logic circuitry on and off;
• a virtual ground monitoring circuit configured to monitor voltage across the power gate switch, the virtual ground monitoring circuit comprising a signal output configured to output a virtual ground monitor signal that changes in dependence on changes to the voltage across the power gate switch;
• a clock;
• and
• a control circuit coupled to the signal output of the virtual around monitoring circuit, the control circuit configured to control the clock of the integrated circuit in dependence on the virtual ground monitor signal.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• logic circuitry;
• a power gate switch coupled to at least a portion of the logic circuitry;
• a virtual ground monitoring circuit configured to monitor voltage across the power gate switch;
• and
• a control circuit configured to introduce dead cycles during switching operations of the logic circuitry in dependence on an output of the virtual ground monitoring circuit.