Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Lawrence J. Bassuk
  • Patent number: 8015466
    Abstract: A Scan-BIST architecture is adapted into a low power Scan-BIST architecture. A generator 102, compactor 106, and controller 110 remain the same as in the known art. The changes between the known art Scan-BIST architecture and the low power Scan-BIST architecture involve modification of the known scan path into scan path 502, to insert scan paths A 506, B 508 and C 510, and the insertion of an adaptor circuit 504 in the control path 114 between controller 110 and scan path 502.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 8013634
    Abstract: First and second devices may simultaneously communicate bidirectionally with each other using only a single pair of LVDS signal paths. Each device includes an input circuit and a differential output driver connected to the single pair of LVDS signal paths. An input to the input circuit is also connected to the input of the driver. The input circuit may also receive an offset voltage. In response to its inputs, the input circuit in each device can use comparators, gates and a multiplexer to determine the logic state being transmitted over the pair of LVDS signal paths from the other device. This advantageously reduces the number of required interconnects between the first and second devices by one half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 8015464
    Abstract: Scan and Scan-BIST architectures are commonly used to test digital circuitry in integrated circuits. The present disclosure improves upon low power Scan and Scan-BIST methods. The improvement allows the low power Scan and Scan-BIST architectures to achieve a delay test capability equally as effective as the delay test capabilities used in conventional scan and Scan-BIST architectures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Lee D. Whetsel, Joel J. Graber
  • Patent number: 8010857
    Abstract: Scan testing of plural target electrical circuits, such as circuits 1 through N, becomes accelerated by using the scan test response data output from one circuit, such as circuit 1, as the scan test stimulus data for another circuit, such as circuit 2. After reset, a scan path captures the output response data from the reset stimulus from all circuits. A tester then shifts the captured data only the length of the first circuit's scan path while loading the first circuit's scan path with new test stimulus data. The new response data from all the circuits then is captured in the scan path. This shift and capture cycle is repeated until the first circuit is tested. The first circuit is then disabled and any remaining stimulus data is applied to the second circuit. This process is repeated until all the circuits are tested. A data retaining boundary scan cell used in the scan testing connects the output of an additional multiplexer as the input to a boundary cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 8009688
    Abstract: A method of processing first and second record packets of real-time information includes computing for each packet a deadline interval and ordering processing of the packets according to the respective deadline intervals. A single-chip integrated circuit has a processor circuit and embedded electronic instructions forming an egress packet control establishing an egress scheduling list structure and operations in the processor circuit that extract a packet deadline intervals, place packets in the egress scheduling list according to deadline intervals; and embed a decoder that decodes the packets according to a priority depending to their deadline intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Andrew W. Welin
  • Patent number: 8006151
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for providing a shadow access port within a device. The shadow access port is accessed to perform operations in the device by reusing the TDI, TMS, TCK and TDO signals that are used to operate a test access port within the device. The presence and operation of the shadow access port is transparent to the presence and operation of the test access port. According to the disclosure, the shadow access port operates on the falling edge of the TCK signal while the test access port conventionally operates on the rising edge of the TCK signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 8004298
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (70) having parallel scan paths (824-842, 924-942) includes a pair or pairs of scan distributor (800,900) and scan collector (844,944) circuits. The scan paths apply stimulus test data to functional circuits (702) on the integrated circuit and receive response test data from the functional circuits. A scan distributor circuit (800) receives serial test data from a peripheral bond pad (802) and distributes it to each parallel scan path. A scan collector circuit (844) collects test data from the parallel scan paths and applies it to a peripheral bond pad (866). This enables more parallel scan paths of shorter length to connect to the functional circuits. The scan distributor and collector circuits can be respectively connected in series to provide parallel connections to more parallel scan paths. Additionally multiplexer circuits (886,890) can selectively connect pairs of scan distributor and collector circuits together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 8004444
    Abstract: A chopping transconductor includes an transconductor input stage coupled with input signals of the chopping transconductor; a chopping switch coupled with an output of the transconductor input stage, the chopping switch having a switch output; and a cascode transistor, wherein the switch output is coupled to an output of the chopping transconductor through the cascode transistor. The chopping transconductor may be used in an analog-to-digital converter to isolate chopping switches from junctions with quantization noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Ganesh Balachandran
  • Patent number: 8001436
    Abstract: Plural scan test paths (401) are provided to reduce power consumed during testing such as combinational logic (101). A state machine (408) operates according to plural shift states (500) to control each scan path in capturing data from response outputs of the combinational logic and then shifting one bit at a time to reduce the capacitive and constant state power consumed by shifting the scan paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 8001435
    Abstract: A TAP linking module (21, 51) permits plural TAPs (TAPs 1-4) to be controlled and accessed from a test bus (13) via a single TAP interface (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 7996740
    Abstract: Scan architectures are commonly used to test digital circuitry in integrated circuits. The present disclosure describes a method of adapting conventional scan architectures into a low power scan architecture. The low power scan architecture maintains the test time of conventional scan architectures, while requiring significantly less operational power than conventional scan architectures. The low power scan architecture is advantageous to IC/die manufacturers since it allows a larger number of circuits (such as DSP or CPU core circuits) embedded in an IC/die to be tested in parallel without consuming too much power within the IC/die. Since the low power scan architecture reduces test power consumption, it is possible to simultaneously test more die on a wafer than previously possible using conventional scan architectures. This allows wafer test times to be reduced which reduces the manufacturing cost of each die on the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 7984331
    Abstract: Testing of an electrical device is achieved by providing a test access mechanism within the device that can receive scan frames from an external tester. The received scan frames contain stimulus data to be applied to circuitry within the device to be tested, a command for enabling a test control operation, and a frame marker bit to indicate the end of the scan frame pattern. The inputting of scan frames can occur continuously and simultaneous with a commanded test control operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 7984347
    Abstract: A system and method for sharing a communications link between multiple protocols is described that comprises a system comprising a communications interface configured to exchange information with other systems using at least one of a plurality of protocols; a protocol select register that stores a value that selects a protocol from among the plurality of protocols to become an active protocol; and a state machine accessible to the communications interface, the state machine used to control the exchange of information through the communications interface according to the active protocol. The active protocol is used by the communications interface to exchange information while the remaining protocols of the plurality of protocols remain inactive. The state machine sequences through a series of states that cause the communications interface to operate according to the active protocol, and that are designated as inert sequences under the remaining protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Gary L. Swoboda
  • Patent number: 7984349
    Abstract: Today many instances of IEEE 1149.1 Tap domains are included in integrated circuits (ICs). While all TAP domains may be serially connected on a scan path that is accessible external to the IC, it is generally preferred to have selectivity on which Tap domain or Tap domains are accessed. Therefore Tap domain selection circuitry may be included in ICs and placed in the scan path along with the Tap domains. Ideally, the Tap domain selection circuitry should only be present in the scan path when it is necessary to modify which Tap domains are selected in the scan path. The present disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus which allows the Tap domain selection circuitry to be removed from the scan path after it has been used to select Tap domains and to be replaced back into the scan path when it is necessary to select different Tap domains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 7975196
    Abstract: An integrated circuit or circuit board includes functional circuitry and a scan path. The scan path includes a test data input lead, a test data output lead, a multiplexer, and scan cells. A dedicated scan cell has a functional data output separate from a test data output. Shared scan cells each have a combined output for functional data and test data. The shared scan cells are coupled in series. The test data input of the first shared scan cell is connected to the test data output of the dedicated scan cell. The combined output of one shared scan cell is coupled to the test data input lead of another shared scan cell. The multiplexer has an input coupled to the test data output, an input connected to the combined output lead of the last shared scan cell in the series, and an output connected in the scan path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 7966183
    Abstract: Automatic speech recognition verification using a combination of two or more confidence scores based on UV features which reuse computations of the original recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kaisheng Yao, Lorin Paul Netsch, Vishu Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 7965103
    Abstract: Quad-state logic elements and quad-state memory elements are used to reduce the wiring density of integrated circuits. The resulting reduction in wiring interconnects between memories and logic elements results in higher speed, higher density, and lower power integrated circuit designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 7961758
    Abstract: In one form of the invention, a process of sending real-time information from a sender computer (103) to a receiver computer (105) coupled to the sender computer (103) by a packet network (100) wherein packets (111,113) sometimes become lost, includes steps of directing (441) packets (111) containing the real-time information from the sender computer (103) by at least one path (119) in the packet network (100) to the receiver computer (105), and directing packets (113) containing information dependent on the real-time information from the sender computer (103) by at least one path diversity path (117) in the packet network (100) to the same receiver computer (105).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen J. Perkins, Alan Gatherer, Krishnasamy Anandakumar, Alan V. McCree, Vishu Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 7962813
    Abstract: IEEE 1149.1 Test Access Ports (TAPs) may be utilized at both IC and intellectual property core design levels. TAPs serve as serial communication ports for accessing a variety of embedded circuitry within ICs and cores including; IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan circuitry, built in test circuitry, internal scan circuitry, IEEE 1149.4 mixed signal test circuitry, IEEE P5001 in-circuit emulation circuitry, and IEEE P1532 in-system programming circuitry. Selectable access to TAPs within ICs is desirable since in many instances being able to access only the desired TAP(s) leads to improvements in the way testing, emulation, and programming may be performed within an IC. A TAP linking module is described that allows TAPs embedded within an IC to be selectively accessed using 1149.1 instruction scan operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Lee D. Whetsel, Baher S. Haroun, Brian J. Lasher, Anjali Kinra
  • Patent number: 7962814
    Abstract: A method of causing an interface to implement a mode from a plurality of selectable modes in which the interface operates according to a plurality of states defined by a state machine comprises sequencing through a sequence of the states, and detecting a predetermined sequence of the states. The predetermined sequence of the states represents a no-operation for at least one of the modes and also represents a mode change command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Gary L. Swoboda