Virtually all engineers use worst case component specifications for new system designs, thereby ensuring that the resulting product will operate under worst-case conditions. However, given that most systems operate under typical operating conditions that rarely approach the demands of worstcase conditions, building such robust systems incurs a significant performance cost. Further, classic worst-case designs do not adapt to variations in either manufacturing or operating conditions.

A timing-error-avoidance prototype provides a circuit and system solution to these problems for synchronous digital systems. TEAtime has demonstrated much better performance than classicallydesigned systems and also adapts well to varying temperature and supply-voltage conditions.