Patents by Inventor Douglas E. Sprague

Douglas E. Sprague has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10436837
    Abstract: A method includes: defining a plurality of clock architecture attributes for a plurality of clock domains to be tested; assigning each one of the plurality of clock domains to a first test group; and refining the assignment of each one of the plurality of clock domains based on the plurality of clock architecture attributes until each of the plurality of clock domains is grouped into a current test group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Hardik P. Bhagat, Mark R. Taylor, Baalaji Konda Ramamoorthy, Douglas E. Sprague, Greeshma Jayakumar
  • Publication number: 20170108549
    Abstract: a method includes: defining a plurality of clock architecture attributes for a plurality of clock domains to be tested; assigning each one of the plurality of clock domains to a first test group; and refining the assignment of each one of the plurality of clock domains based on the plurality of clock architecture attributes until each of the plurality of clock domains is grouped into a current test group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Hardik P. BHAGAT, Mark R. TAYLOR, Baalaji Konda Ramamoorthy, Douglas E. Sprague, Greeshma Jayakumar
  • Patent number: 9286181
    Abstract: A method to produce a description file of Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) capture-shift test data registers to be used to interpret a test result of a memory included in an integrated circuit structure that is configured for testing integrated circuit memory. A computer extracts, from a first data file, the names a memory built in self test instance, a memory built in self test port name, and a name of a first memory. The first data file controls the hierarchical and architectural arrangement of components of an integrated circuit. The first data file describes a hierarchical order of an architectural arrangement of the components, electrical pathways, and connections between the components and the electrical pathways of an integrated circuit design. The computer adds the extracted names into the description file such that the description file is configured to interpret a test result of a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Craig M. Monroe, Michael R. Ouellette, Douglas E. Sprague, Michael A. Ziegerhofer
  • Patent number: 9194916
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides for a method of prioritizing clock domains for testing an integrated circuit (IC) design. The method can include: assigning each of a plurality of multi-tested clock domains (MTCDs) and a plurality of test experiments (TEs) to one of a plurality of speed priority groups (SPGs), wherein the assigning includes: creating a new SPG having a priority value of n+1, wherein n represents the number of previously created SPGs; assigning a first MTCD corresponding to at least two of the plurality of TEs, the first MTCD not being previously assigned to an SPG, to the new SPG; and assigning each TE corresponding to the first MTCD, each of the assigned TEs not being previously assigned to an SPG, to the new SPG; and performing each of the plurality of TEs on the IC design in order from lowest priority value to highest priority value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Sprague, Philip S. Stevens
  • Publication number: 20150185286
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides for a method of prioritizing clock domains for testing an integrated circuit (IC) design. The method can include: assigning each of a plurality of multi-tested clock domains (MTCDs) and a plurality of test experiments (TEs) to one of a plurality of speed priority groups (SPGs), wherein the assigning includes: creating a new SPG having a priority value of n+1, wherein n represents the number of previously created SPGs; assigning a first MTCD corresponding to at least two of the plurality of TEs, the first MTCD not being previously assigned to an SPG, to the new SPG; and assigning each TE corresponding to the first MTCD, each of the assigned TEs not being previously assigned to an SPG, to the new SPG; and performing each of the plurality of TEs on the IC design in order from lowest priority value to highest priority value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas E. Sprague, Philip S. Stevens
  • Publication number: 20150039950
    Abstract: A method to produce a description file of Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) capture-shift test data registers to be used to interpret a test result of a memory included in an integrated circuit structure that is configured for testing integrated circuit memory. A computer extracts, from a first data file, the names a memory built in self test instance, a memory built in self test port name, and a name of a first memory. The first data file controls the hierarchical and architectural arrangement of components of an integrated circuit. The first data file describes a hierarchical order of an architectural arrangement of the components, electrical pathways, and connections between the components and the electrical pathways of an integrated circuit design. The computer adds the extracted names into the description file such that the description file is configured to interpret a test result of a memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Craig M. Monroe, Michael R. Ouellette, Douglas E. Sprague, Michael A. Ziegerhofer
  • Patent number: 8661399
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide for creating a built-in-self-test (BIST) organizational file for an integrated circuit (IC) chip. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a design file including a hierarchy of memory modules, each module including a plurality of memory wrappers; scanning each memory wrapper in each hierarchical level of memory modules for a BIST type; creating, based on the hierarchical level and the BIST type, an ordered list of memory wrappers; adding, based on the BIST type, a BIST engine for each memory wrapper listed in the ordered list; and adding a plurality of references statements to the ordered list to create the BIST organizational file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Craig M. Monroe, Michael R. Ouellette, Douglas E. Sprague
  • Publication number: 20140040685
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide for creating a built-in-self-test (BIST) organizational file for an integrated circuit (IC) chip. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a design file including a hierarchy of memory modules, each module including a plurality of memory wrappers; scanning each memory wrapper in each hierarchical level of memory modules for a BIST type; creating, based on the hierarchical level and the BIST type, an ordered list of memory wrappers; adding, based on the BIST type, a BIST engine for each memory wrapper listed in the ordered list; and adding a plurality of references statements to the ordered list to create the BIST organizational file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Craig M. Monroe, Michael R. Ouellette, Douglas E. Sprague
  • Patent number: 8595678
    Abstract: Disclosed is a program for creating a checking-statement which can be subsequently used to validate interconnections between logic blocks in a circuit design. The checking-statement is created by taking a description of how logic blocks in a circuit design are associated to one another (if at all), and cross referencing the description with rule statements specific to each logic block defining the allowable connections between the specific logic block and other logic blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Craig M. Monroe, Michael R. Ouellette, Douglas E. Sprague, Michael A. Ziegerhofer
  • Patent number: 8538718
    Abstract: A method of grouping clock domains includes: separating a plurality of test clocks into a plurality of domain groups by adding to each respective one of the plurality of domain groups those test clocks that originate from a same clock source and have a unique clock divider ratio; sorting the domain groups in decreasing order of size; and creating a plurality of parts by adding the respective one of the plurality of domain groups to a first one of the plurality of parts in which already present test clocks have a different clock source, and creating a new part and adding the respective one of the plurality of domain groups to the new part when test clocks present in the respective one of the plurality of domain groups originate from a respective same clock source and have a different clock divider ratio as test clocks present in all previously-created parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary D. Grise, Vikram Iyengar, Douglas E. Sprague, Mark R. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20130205268
    Abstract: Disclosed is a program for creating a checking-statement which can be subsequently used to validate interconnections between logic blocks in a circuit design. The checking-statement is created by taking a description of how logic blocks in a circuit design are associated to one another (if at all), and cross referencing the description with rule statements specific to each logic block defining the allowable connections between the specific logic block and other logic blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Craig M. Monroe, Michael R. Ouellette, Douglas E. Sprague, Michael A. Ziegerhofer
  • Patent number: 8239818
    Abstract: A system and associated data structure that can be utilized within a chip design platform to define the structure of an MBIST architecture. A system for generating a memory built in self test (MBIST) design file in described, including a tool for processing an organization file (Org File), wherein the Org File includes lines of code that dictate a structure of the MBIST design file and conform to a data structure defined by the tool; wherein said data structure provides an infrastructure to describe: associations between MBIST components at a design level; associations between MBIST components and hierarchical test ports at the design level; and a serial order of daisy chains among MBIST components within the design level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Craig M. Monroe, Michael R. Ouellette, Douglas E. Sprague, Georgy S. Varghese
  • Publication number: 20120150473
    Abstract: A method of grouping clock domains includes: separating a plurality of test clocks into a plurality of domain groups by adding to each respective one of the plurality of domain groups those test clocks that originate from a same clock source and have a unique clock divider ratio; sorting the domain groups in decreasing order of size; and creating a plurality of parts by adding the respective one of the plurality of domain groups to a first one of the plurality of parts in which already present test clocks have a different clock source, and creating a new part and adding the respective one of the plurality of domain groups to the new part when test clocks present in the respective one of the plurality of domain groups originate from a respective same clock source and have a different clock divider ratio as test clocks present in all previously-created parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary D. Grise, Vikram Iyengar, Douglas E. Sprague, Mark R. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6868513
    Abstract: A method, system and software for automatically generating a test environment for testing a plurality of devices (DUTs) under test in a test system. The multiple devices are tested by mapping the plurality of DUTs into pins of the tester system to create pin data; inputting into a test program generator pattern data, generic test program rules and the pin data; generating a multi-DUT test program and multi-DUT pattern data; and controlling the test system through the test program. The resulting fail data is then logged to each DUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sally S. Botala, Dale B. Grosch, Donald L. LaCroix, Douglas E. Sprague, Randolph P. Steel, Anthony K. Stevens