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Efuse Chip Morphing

IBM unveiled its eFuse chip-morphing technology, which uses microscopic electrical fuses and software algorithms to allow processors to dynamically adjust themselves in response to problems or performance demands. The technology monitors chip functionality and can reconfigure circuits by tripping fuses to repair issues or improve performance. It represents a new approach to chip design that aims to make processors self-monitoring, self-healing, and able to reconfigure over time based on usage.

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712 views3 pages

Efuse Chip Morphing

IBM unveiled its eFuse chip-morphing technology, which uses microscopic electrical fuses and software algorithms to allow processors to dynamically adjust themselves in response to problems or performance demands. The technology monitors chip functionality and can reconfigure circuits by tripping fuses to repair issues or improve performance. It represents a new approach to chip design that aims to make processors self-monitoring, self-healing, and able to reconfigure over time based on usage.

Uploaded by

Ansuman Sahoo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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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-users. Future uses could include autonomic processors that can self-monitor,
self-heal and reconfigure themselves dynamically after theyve 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.

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.

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

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-bootloader-
controversy-says-efuse

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

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