Operating parameter control for integrated circuit signal paths

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a signal source;
• a signal destination;
• a signal path connecting said signal source and said signal destination, said signal source being operable to add error correcting codes to signals sent from said signal source to said signal destination and said signal destination being operable to use said error correcting codes to correct communication errors in said signals as received by said signal destination;
• and
• a signal path controller configured to detect said communication errors and in dependence upon said detected communication errors to dynamically adjust one or more operating parameters of said signal path;
• wherein said one or more operating parameters of said signal path comprise one of more of:
• signal voltage level;
• operating clock frequency;
• body bias voltage level;
• and
• operating temperature,
• wherein said signal path controller is configured to control said one or more operating parameters in dependence upon an averaged rate of said detected communication errors.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a signal source;
• a signal destination;
• a signal path connecting said signal source and said signal destination, said signal source being operable to add error correcting codes to signals sent from said signal source to said signal destination and said signal destination being operable to use said error correcting codes to correct communication errors in said signals as received by said signal destination;
• and
• a signal path controller configured to detect said communication errors and in dependence upon said detected communication errors to dynamically adjust one or more operating parameters of said signal path;
• wherein said one or more operating parameters of said signal path comprise one of more of:
• signal voltage level;
• operating clock frequency;
• body bias voltage level;
• and
• operating temperature,
• wherein said signal path controller is operable to change said one or more operating parameters in a first direction at a rate greater than in a second direction, a change in said first direction being such as to reduce said detected communication errors.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a signal source;
• a signal destination;
• a signal path connecting said signal source and said signal destination, said signal source being operable to add error correcting codes to signals sent from said signal source to said signal destination and said signal destination being operable to use said error correcting codes to correct communication errors in said signals as received by said signal destination;
• and
• a signal path controller configured to detect said communication errors and in dependence upon said detected communication errors to dynamically adjust one or more operating parameters of said signal path;
• wherein said one or more operating parameters of said signal path comprise one of more of:
• signal voltage level;
• operating clock frequency;
• body bias voltage level;
• and
• operating temperature,
• wherein said signal path controller is responsive to one or more control signals serving to at least temporarily override control based upon detected communication errors.

Apparatus for processing data comprising:

• a memory integrated circuit;
• a memory accessing integrated circuit;
• an external memory signal path connecting said memory integrated circuit and said memory accessing integrated circuit, at least a respective one of said memory integrated circuit and said memory accessing integrated circuit being configured to add error correcting codes to memory signals transmitted therebetween upon said external memory signal path and to use said error correcting code to correct communication errors in said memory signals as received;
• and
• a signal path controller configured to detect said communication errors and in dependence upon said detected communication errors to dynamically adjust one or more operating parameters of said external memory signal path;
• wherein said one or more operating parameters of said signal path comprise one of more of:
• signal voltage level;
• operating clock frequency;
• body bias voltage level;
• and
• operating temperature,
• wherein said signal path controller is configured to provide closed-loop feedback control of said one or more operating parameters in dependence upon said detected communication errors.

A method of operating an integrated circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

• connecting a signal source and a signal destination by a signal path;
• adding error correcting codes to signals sent from said signal source to said signal destination;
• detecting communication errors in said signals as received by said signal destination;
• using said error correcting codes to correct said communication errors;
• and
• in dependence upon said detected communication errors, dynamically adjusting one or more operating parameters of said signal path;
• wherein said one or more operating parameters of said signal path comprise one of more of:
• signal voltage level;
• operating clock frequency;
• body bias voltage level;
• and
• operating temperature,
• wherein said step of dynamically adjusting provides closed-loop feedback control of said one or more operating parameters in dependence upon said detected communication errors.