A method and apparatus for voltage regulation uses, in one aspect,
worst-case supply voltages specific to the process split of the
integrated device at issue. In another aspect, a two-phase voltage
regulation system and method identifies the characterization data
pertinent to a family of integrated circuit devices in a first phase, and
identifies an associated process split of a candidate integrated circuit
device in a second phase. The characterization data from the first phase
is then used to provide supply voltages that correspond to target
frequencies of operation for the candidate device. In another aspect, a
hybrid voltage regulator circuit includes an open loop circuit which
automatically identifies the process split of the integrated circuit
device and allows a regulator to modify supply voltage based on
characterization data specific to that process split, and a closed loop
circuit which fine-tunes the supply voltage. In one embodiment, the
closed-loop circuit includes a critical path replica for providing
estimated frequencies of operation necessary for a critical path in the
integrated circuit device. A ring oscillator circuit may be used in one
embodiment in the critical path and/or in the open loop circuit.