Abstract: Adaptive clocking schemes for synchronized on-chip functional blocks are provided. The clocking schemes enable synchronous clocking which can be adapted according to changes in signal path propagation delay due temperature, process, and voltage variations, for example. In embodiments, the clocking schemes allow for the capacity utilization of a logic path to be increased.

Abstract: Adaptive clocking schemes for synchronized on-chip functional blocks are provided. The clocking schemes enable synchronous clocking which can be adapted according to changes in signal path propagation delay due temperature, process, and voltage variations, for example. In embodiments, the clocking schemes allow for the capacity utilization of a logic path to be increased.

Abstract: Adaptive clocking schemes for synchronized on-chip functional blocks are provided. The clocking schemes enable synchronous clocking which can be adapted according to changes in signal path propagation delay due temperature, process, and voltage variations, for example. In embodiments, the clocking schemes allow for the capacity utilization of a logic path to be increased.

Abstract: Adaptive clocking schemes for synchronized on-chip functional blocks are provided. The clocking schemes enable synchronous clocking which can be adapted according to changes in signal path propagation delay due temperature, process, and voltage variations, for example. In embodiments, the clocking schemes allow for the capacity utilization of a logic path to be increased.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for reducing the impact of high load and aging on processor cores in a processor. A Power Management Unit (PMU) can monitor aging, temperature, and increased load on the processor cores. The PMU instructs the processor to take action such that aging, temperature, and/or increased load are approximately evenly distributed across the processor cores, so that the processor can continue to efficiently process instructions.

Abstract: Adaptive clocking schemes for synchronized on-chip functional blocks are provided. The clocking schemes enable synchronous clocking which can be adapted according to changes in signal path propagation delay due temperature, process, and voltage variations, for example. In embodiments, the clocking schemes allow for the capacity utilization of a logic path to be increased.

Abstract: An electronics device is disclosed that reduces latency resulting from communication between a first electronics component operating based on a fast clock and a second electronics component operating based on a slow clock reduces communication latency. When transferring the data from the first component to the second, the data is written into a buffer using the first clock, and then extracted by the second component using the second clock. Alternatively, when transferring the data from the second component to the first component, the first component reads the data from the second component and monitors whether the data was extracted during a relevant edge of the second clock signal, in which case the first component again extracts the data from the second component.

Abstract: Certain semiconductor processes provide for the use of multiple different types of transistors with different threshold voltages in a single IC. It can be shown that in certain ones of these semiconductor processes, the speed at which high threshold transistors can operate at decreases with decreasing temperature. Thus, the overall processing speed of an IC that implements high threshold transistors is often limited by the lowest temperature at which the IC is designed (or guaranteed) to properly function. Embodiments of a system and method that overcome this deficiency by “pre-heating” the IC (or at least portions of the IC that implement the high threshold transistors) such that the IC can operate at a frequency (once pre-heated) higher than what would otherwise be possible for a given, minimum temperature at which the IC is designed (or guaranteed) to properly function at are provided.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a cryptographic processor within a wireless device. The cryptographic processor includes at least one cryptographic unit. The cryptographic processor also includes a nonvolatile memory to store one or more microcode instructions, wherein at least one of the one or more microcode instructions is related to a sensitive operation. The cryptographic processor also includes a controller to control execution of the one or more microcode instructions by the at least one cryptographic unit, wherein the controller is to preclude execution of the sensitive operation if the apparatus is within an untrusted state.

Abstract: A system and method for closed loop power supply control in large, multiple processor installations are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for efficiently powering down elements and buses of a system without negatively impacting traffic. A power manager receives information from subsystems and determines whether a particular subsystem or bus can be powered down. The power manager sends a message to a subsystem when the subsystem or bus can be safely powered down. Blocker modules are coupled to buses, and the blocker modules respond with an error message if a subsystem attempts to send data over an inactive bus.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for efficiently managing power among system components. In an embodiment, a power manager receives information from subsystems and determines which subsystem components will require power to perform upcoming tasks. Based on this received information, the power manager can power on and power down individual subsystem components. Systems and methods according to embodiments of the present disclosure enable a cache of a subsystem to be powered on without requiring a power-up of every component of the subsystem. Thus, disclosed systems and methods enable a first subsystem to snoop into a cache of a second subsystem without requiring a full power-up of the second subsystem.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system and method for an interrupt controller that propagates interrupts to a subsystem in a system-on-a-chip (SOC). Interrupts are provided to an interrupt controller that controls access of interrupts to a particular subsystem in the SOC that includes multiple subsystems. Each subsystem in the SOC generates multiple interrupts to other subsystems in the SOC. The interrupt controller processes multiple interrupts and generates an interrupt output. The interrupt output is then transmitted to a particular subsystem.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a cryptographic processor within a wireless device. The cryptographic processor includes at least one cryptographic unit. The cryptographic processor also includes a nonvolatile memory to store one or more microcode instructions, wherein at least one of the one or more microcode instructions is related to a sensitive operation. The cryptographic processor also includes a controller to control execution of the one or more microcode instructions by the at least one cryptographic unit, wherein the controller is to preclude execution of the sensitive operation if the apparatus is within an untrusted state.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a method and apparatus for enabling a main core and one or more co-processors to operate in a de-coupled mode, thereby facilitating the execution of two or more instruction threads in parallel. A co-processor, according to an embodiment of the invention, has a coupling manager including a loop buffer for storing instructions which can be independently fetched and executed by the co-processor when operating in de-coupled mode. In addition, the coupling manager includes a loop descriptor and a counter/condition descriptor. The loop descriptor and condition descriptor work in conjunction with one another to determine what, if any, action should be taken when a co-processor is in a particular processing state, for example, as indicated by a counter keeping track of loop processing.

Abstract: Embodiments provide an adaptive memory that allows for low voltage modes of operation. In the low voltage modes of operation, the supply voltage provided to the memory is reduced below Vcc(min), which allows for significant savings in the power consumption of circuit components (e.g., the CPU) whose minimum voltage is dictated by Vcc(min). According to further embodiments, the memory can be configured dynamically according to various configurations depending on desired power savings (e.g., target Vcc(min)) and/or performance requirements (e.g., reliability, cache size requirement, etc.).

Abstract: Certain semiconductor processes provide for the use of multiple different types of transistors with different threshold voltages in a single IC. It can be shown that in certain ones of these semiconductor processes, the speed at which high threshold transistors can operate at decreases with decreasing temperature. Thus, the overall processing speed of an IC that implements high, threshold transistors is often limited by the lowest temperature at which the IC is designed (or guaranteed) to properly function. Embodiments of a system and method that overcome this deficiency by “pre-heating” the IC (or at least portions of the IC that implement the high threshold transistors) such that the IC can operate at a frequency (once pre-heated) higher than what would otherwise be possible for a given minimum temperature at which the IC is designed or guaranteed) to properly function at are provided.

Abstract: Certain semiconductor processes provide for the use of multiple different types of transistors with different threshold voltages in a single IC. It can be shown that in certain ones of these semiconductor processes, the speed at which high threshold transistors can operate at decreases with decreasing temperature. Thus, the overall processing speed of an IC that implements high threshold transistors is often limited by the lowest temperature at which the IC is designed (or guaranteed) to properly function. Embodiments of a system and method that overcome this deficiency by “pre-heating” the IC (or at least portions of the IC that implement the high threshold transistors) such that the IC can operate at a frequency (once pre-heated) higher than what would otherwise be possible for a given, minimum temperature at which the IC is designed (or guaranteed) to properly function at are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments provide an adaptive memory that allows for low voltage modes of operation. In the low voltage modes of operation, the supply voltage provided to the memory is reduced below Vcc(min), which allows for significant savings in the power consumption of circuit components (e.g., the CPU) whose minimum voltage is dictated by Vcc(min). According to further embodiments, the memory can be configured dynamically according to various configurations depending on desired power savings (e.g., target Vcc(min)) and/or performance requirements (e.g., reliability, cache size requirement, etc.).

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed to combine pad functionality in an integrated circuit. A power, ground, or signal pad is connected to a power, ground, or signal source, respectively. The power, ground, or signal pad is additionally connected to an additional signal source, such as automatic test equipment in a testing environment. By temporarily disconnecting either the power, ground, or signal source, from the functional block within the integrated circuit to which the source is delivered, the same pad may pass in another signal to other portions of the integrated circuit. In the alternative, the same pad may pass in another signal to other portions of the integrated circuit without disconnecting the original signal by coupling the additional signal over the original signal. Further, combining pad functionality enables reuse of an input pad as an output pad for signals originating from within the integrated circuit.