Post-silicon programmed body-biasing platform suppressing device variability in 45 nm CMOS technology

Abstract

The Post-Silicon Programmed Body-Biasing Platform is proposed to suppress device variability in the 45-nm CMOS technology era. The proposed platform measures device speed during post-fabrication testing. Then the fast die is marked so that the body-bias circuit turns on and reduces leakage current of the die that is selected and marked in a user application. Because the slow die around the speed specifications of a product is not body-biased, the product runs as fast as a normal non-body-biasing product. Although the leakage power of a fast die is reduced, the speed specification does not change. The proposed platform improves the worst corner specification comprising the two worst cases of speed and leakage power. The test chip, fabricated using 45-nm technology, improves the worst corner of stand-by leakage power vs. speed by 70%.