Aging-aware dynamic voltage or frequency scaling

The work developed consists in an aging-aware dynamic voltage or frequency scaling methodology, to be used in long-term operation, using global and local performance sensors. Methodology allows circuits to be dynamically optimized, during their life-time, according to one of two possible needs: (1) restrict power consumption, by reducing power-supply voltage to the minimum value that prevents errors from happening; or (2) optimize performance, by increasing operating frequency to the maximum limit that prevents errors´ occurrence. The dynamic optimization is achieved by using a cooperative work of global and local sensors. Moreover, a new local sensor is presented, to obtain an enhanced solution with additional tolerance to delay-faults, allowing to achieve higher improvement in power or frequency optimization, or to achieve a higher safety and control margin. Spice simulations in a 65nm CMOS technology demonstrate the results for an example of a dynamic frequency scaling strategy.