A set of ring oscillators is formed within a predetermined distance of
each other. Each ring oscillator includes a number of coupled stages. The
stages for a first given ring oscillator include an inverter having one
or more first MOS devices having a first gate length. The stages for a
second given ring oscillator include one or more second MOS devices
having a second designed gate length. The stages for a third given ring
oscillator comprise one or more third MOS devices having a third designed
gate length. The second and third designed gate lengths are different and
one of the second and third designed gate lengths is approximately equal
to the first designed gate length. Performance is measured by using one
of more of the given ring oscillators. The set of ring oscillators is
used to determine one or more additional characteristics of MOS devices
in the ring oscillators.