A frequency monitor circuit (FMC) that is part of an integrated circuit
chip for monitoring the frequency of one or more clocks present on the
chip is disclosed. The FMC includes a reference window generator,
operative to output a reference window signal of a given duration, and a
clock counter, operative to count all pulses, in any one of the clocks,
that occur within the duration of the reference window and to output a
corresponding pulse count. The FMC further includes two or more
comparators, each operative to compare the pulse count with a respective
given threshold value and to output a corresponding indication of
frequency deviation. In one configuration, in which the clock is
generated on the chip by a frequency multiplier, the reference window
generator and the clock counter are shared between the frequency monitor
circuit and the frequency multiplier.