What are PVT Sensors?

Definition
Process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) sensors are semiconductor IP
circuits that are typically embedded inside of system-on-chip (SoC) designs.
Sensing the dynamic operating environment of the SoC (i.e., the voltage and
temperature) as well as the static condition (i.e., process) provides a method
to optimize the SoC’s performance based on the local conditions the chip is
experiencing. Performance and power consumption can be optimized with
this information. It is also possible to detect anomalies in chip performance
that might stem from an SoC/system failure or a security breach.
The ability to determine the process type of the silicon (fast, slow, typical)
and sense the operating environment of the SoC has application during the
testing and characterization of the part. The technology is also used as the
device is deployed in the field to measure and optimize performance. This
approach is part of a growing discipline called Silicon Lifecycle Management,
or SLM.

What do PVT Sensors do?

As the name implies, PVT sensors represent embedded analog IP blocks
that are typically integrated into SoCs with the goal of sensing the process
variability and operating environment of the chip. These devices exploit the
fact that certain measurable characteristics of a semiconductor device
change depending on levels of activity, due to variable software operation or
CPU loading, and also from environmental conditions.
For example, the voltage across a diode increases at a known rate as
temperature changes. By precisely amplifying this voltage change, an analog
signal can be generated that is directly proportional to the local temperature
experienced by the diode.
Voltage sensors can use comparator circuits (e.g., op amps) to compare a
voltage level to a known reference voltage. Reference voltage-free
techniques are also possible by measuring how a test circuit’s performance
changes; for example, latency is one characteristic that can be considered,
since the change in latency as a function of voltage is known.
A process sensor will use multiple techniques to determine if the particular
piece of silicon being used for the SoC is fast, typical, or slow for logic
devices.