OmniTRUST™ Highlights

Distributed PVT
sensing solution

±1C
Temperature accuracy

Single-ended and
differential voltage sense

Latch-up
detection

Compact footprint,
Low power

High speed
glitch detection

Programmable
sensor HUB

Available in 28nm to

advanced FinFET nodes

Ensuring the Longevity of Your Chips: The OmniTRUST™ SoC Management

To be competitive today, many SoCs push the limits of operation to achieve maximum performance. Gone are the days when chip functionality was merely a concern during production and shipment. With SoC and multi-die designs, monitoring operation and adjusting operating conditions are critical to ensuring timely intervention before problems arise. Achieving this requires real-time access to information about on-chip operating conditions, often for independent parts of a single chip, and then using this information to control the internal chip elements and operating conditions to maximize performance, avoid failures and ensure long term reliability.

Thermal Management and Power Optimization

Managing thermal complexities and optimizing power consumption stand as critical priorities for advanced SoCs. These problems exist on a single die but become even more critical with multiple dies in a single package, particularly as the system ages. Addressing these challenges requires both an understanding of the SoC design risk factors and the strategic inclusion of real-time monitoring devices that provide the hard data needed to optimize performance.

PVT Monitors

Process detectors, voltage monitors, and temperature sensors (PVTs) serve as the fundamental building blocks for monitoring key metrics throughout the silicon lifecycle, from initial design to in-field operation. Instrumental in on-chip voltage and power management, PVT monitors enable dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS), and can initiate shutdowns when temperatures veer toward critical levels. PVT monitors have experienced widespread adoption, employed in nearly all designs at 16nm and below, and in most high-performance applications including data centers, communication networks, and automotive. As a preventive measure, PVT monitors avert unwanted outcomes ahead of time.

Latch-up and Glitch Detection

Temperature and supply variations are not the only challenge facing advanced SoCs today. Many high-performance systems can be exposed to environmental effects and operating conditions that can trigger latch-up conditions in the silicon. It is critical to detect and address these situations in real-time to avoid catastrophic failures.

A glitch detector with low-latency is a monitor that can be critical to ensuring reliable operation. Latch-up and glitch issues may arise from natural conditions such as noise, radiation, and power supply fluctuations, or by malicious attacks such as fault injection or tampering. Regardless of the origins, reliable operation requires first recognizing that a condition exists, and then taking corrective action.

The Sensor HUB: The Heart of the System

With distributed sensors, the overall management of the sensors are critical to successful application of the OmniTRUST™ SoC management strategy. From simplifying scan sequences, to setting trip points and alerts, the sensor hub can simplify the overall integration. Basic filters are included and are programmable to minimize false alarms. The sensor hub simplifies customer integration and communications when interfacing to a range of sensors within the SoC. The configurable monitoring system is compatible with digital design flows and has both standard and test modes to support production test environments.