Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a functional circuit (10) having a power grid (20) with a set of power grid points (30.i) for monitoring; and an electronic monitoring circuit (100) that has a variably operable reference circuit (150) responsive to an input register (155) and having an output, comparison circuitry (110) having plural outputs and having a first input coupled to the output of said variably operable reference circuit (150) and a set of second inputs each second input coupled to a respective one of said power grid points (30.i); and an output register (120) having at least two register bit cells (120.i) respectively fed by the plural outputs of said comparison circuitry (110.i). Other integrated circuits, and processes of testing and of manufacturing are also disclosed.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter receives input power from a power source and generates a regulated DC voltage as an output. The DC-DC converter contains multiple blocks, each of which is powered by a power supply received on a supply terminal. The DC-DC converter also contains a voltage regulator to generate a lower voltage from the power source. The lower voltage generated by the regulator is provided as the power supply on the supply terminal when the regulated DC voltage is less than a reference value, and the regulated DC voltage itself is provided as the power supply on the supply terminal otherwise. The regulator is switched off when the blocks are powered by the regulated DC voltage, thereby leading to increased efficiency of the DC-DC converter.