Efuse Chip Morphing 171d5w

Chip Morphing Technology Introduction: Designed to enable processors to dynamically adjust themselves in response to problems or systems demands.

What is an EFuse?  eFUSE is a technology invented by IBM which allows for the dynamic real-time reprogramming of computer chips.  eFUSE uses software algorithms and microscopic electrical fuses to form a built-in-repair system that constantly monitors a chip's functionality.

E-Fuse role in chip morphing:IBM unveiled its eFuse chip-morphing technology, designed to enable processors to dynamically adjust themselves in response to problems or systems demands. In computing, eFUSE is a technology invented by IBM which allows for the dynamic real-time reprogramming of computer chips. eFuse is a patented technology that combines software algorithms and microscopic electrical fuses that will produce chips that can adapt on the fly to increase performance or avoid problems. eFuse uses software algorithms and microscopic electrical fuses to form a built-in-repair system that constantly monitors a chip's functionality. If an imperfection is found, corrective actions are initiated by tripping the fuses.The technology can sense when the chip needs to increase performance or avoid a potential problem, and then can reconfigure the chip to meet the demands by tripping electrical fuses integrated into the chip. It can monitor and manage power consumption, repair problems and sense changes in demands on the chip. Chip makers can use the morphing technology to alter chips for systems makers depending on the needs of end-s. Future uses could include autonomic processors that can self-monitor, self-heal and reconfigure themselves dynamically after they’ve been put into systems. Electromigration is used to program the fuses without damaging other parts of the chip. The activated fuses help the chip control individual circuit speed to manage power consumption and repair unexpected flaws. If a malfunction is caused by individual circuits

running too fast or too slow, the eFuse technology can throttle down these circuits or speed them up by monitoring the local voltage. The said technology will ship under the name eFuse, so called because it employs millions of electrical fuses that are built into the chip's circuitry. Together, the microfuses act as a kind of autonomous traffic control network, responding to the changing demands placed on the microprocessor to switch individual circuits on and off as required. Indeed, "eFuse is part of a built-in self-repair system that constantly monitors a chip's functionality. If an imperfection is detected, this technology 'instinctively' initiates corrective actions by tripping inexpensive electrical fuses that are designed into the chip. The fuses help the chip control individual circuit speed to manage power consumption and repair unexpected, and potentially costly flaws", says IBM. Overclockers, beware "If the technology detects that the chip is malfunctioning because individual circuits are running too fast or too slow, it can 'throttle down' these circuits or speed them up by controlling the appropriate local voltage".

eFuse appears to operate at several levels. There's an element of pre-ship tuning, in which IBM allows eFuse to adapt processors for the customer's anticipated application load. On site, the technology continues to adapt according to ongoing workloads. So how does is work? Essentially, the system uses the phenomenon of 'electromigration', in which moving electrons - current - transfer momentum to the surrounding crystal lattice. That causes the lattice to vibrate and can ultimately induce changes in the microstructure that in turn cause a circuit to fail - the chip equivalent of a light-bulb filament fusing. The greater the vibrations, the hotter the circuit and the hotter the circuit gets, the more it vibrates and the more likely electrons are to hit the lattice, imparting more momentum.

Features of EFuse: Can self-monitor  Can self-heal  Can reconfigure themselves

Electromigration: Electromigration is used to program the fuses without damaging other parts of the chip.  The activated fuses help to chip control individual circuit speed to manage power consumption and repair unexpected flows.  eFuse technology can throttle down these circuits or speed them up by monitoring the local voltage.

Implementation Of Efuse: IBM POWER5 and POWER6 high-end RISC processors . 

IBM System z9 and System z10 mainframe processors.

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Sony/Toshiba/IBM Cell used in PlayStation 3 .

CONCLUSION:•

This phenomena has traditionally been detrimental to chip performance and was avoided — even at significant cost and effort.

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IBM has perfected a technique that harnesses electromigration and uses it to program a fuse without damaging other parts of the chip.

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Previous implementations of on-chip fuse technology in the industry often involved rupturing fuses, which had resulted in unwanted performance and reliability problems.

References: http://focus.ti.com/general/docs/wtbu/wtbugencontent.tsp?templateId=6123&navigati onId=12316&contentId=4629&DCMP=WTBU&HQS=Other+EM+m-shield 

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/16/motorola-responds-to-droid-x-bootloadercontroversy-says-efuse

 http://phys.org/news/2004-08-ibm-chip-morphingtechnology-self-managing.html