Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a method and an associated first system for extending product life of a second system in the presence of phenomena that cause the exhibition of both performance degradation and recovery properties within system devices. The first system includes duplicate devices incorporated into the second system (e.g., on a shared bus). These duplicate devices are adapted to independently perform the same function within that second system. Reference signal generators, a reference signal comparator, a power controller and a state machine, working in combination, can be adapted to seamlessly switch performance of that same function within the second system between the duplicate devices based on a measurement of performance degradation to allow for device recovery. A predetermined policy accessible by the state machine dictates when and whether or not to initiate a switch.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for controlling power supply voltage to an on-chip power distribution network. The system incorporates a programmable on-chip sensing network that can be selectively connected to the power distribution network at multiple locations. When the sensing network is selectively connected to the power distribution network at an optimal sensing point, a local voltage feedback signal from that optimal sensing point is generated and used to adjust the power supply voltage and, thus, to manage voltage distribution across the power distribution network. Additionally, the system incorporates a policy for managing the voltage distribution across the power distribution network, a means for profiling voltage drops across the power distribution network and a means for selecting the optimal sensing point based on the policy and the profile. Another embodiment of the system can further control power supply voltages to multiple power distribution networks on the same chip.