Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
ONBOARD MONITORING OF VOLTAGE LEVELS AND DROOP EVENTS

Abstract:

A processor includes a plurality of voltage droop detectors positioned at multiple points of a processor. The detectors monitor voltage levels and alert the processor if a droop event has been detected in real time. Multiple droops can be detected simultaneously, with each detected droop event generating an alert that is sent to a processor module, such as a clock control module, to act based on the detected droop. Each detector employs a ring oscillator that generates a periodic signal and a corresponding count based on that signal, where the frequency of the signal varies based on a voltage at the corresponding point being monitored.