Patents by Inventor Lee D. Whetsel

Lee D. Whetsel 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: 12379393
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for improving silicon interposers to include test circuitry for testing stacked die mounted on the interposer. The improvement allows for the stacked die to be selectively tested by an external tester or by the test circuitry included in the interposer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 12352814
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for improving interposers that connected stacked die assemblies to system substrates. The improvement includes the addition of IEEE 1149.1 circuitry within interposers to allow simplifying interconnect testing of digital and analog signal connections between the interposer and system substrate it is attached too. The improvement also includes the additional 1149.1 controlled circuitry that allows real time monitoring of voltage supply and ground buses in the interposer. The improvement also includes the additional of 1149.1 controlled circuitry that allows real time monitoring of functional digital and analog input and output signals in the interposer. The improvement also provides the ability to selectively serially link the 1149.1 circuitry in the interposer with 1149.1 circuitry in the die of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Publication number: 20250155502
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatuses for allowing a controller to select and access different types of access ports in a device. The selecting and accessing of the access ports is achieved using only the dedicated TDI, TMS, TCK, and TDO signal terminals of the device. The selecting and accessing of device access ports can be achieved when a single device is connected to the controller, when multiple devices are placed in a daisy-chain arrangement and connected to the controller, or when multiple devices are placed in a addressable parallel arrangement and connected to the controller. Additional embodiments are also provided and described in the disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2025
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Publication number: 20250130278
    Abstract: In some examples, an integrated circuit comprises: a TDI input, a TDO output, a TCK input and a TMS input; a TAP state machine (TSM) having an input coupled to the TCK input, an input coupled to the TMS input, an instruction register control output, a TSM data register control (DRC) output, and a TSM state output; an instruction register having an input coupled to the TDI input, an output coupled to the TDO output, and a control input coupled to the instruction register control output of the TAP state machine; router circuitry including a TSM DRC input coupled to the TSM DRC output, a control DRC input coupled to the TSM state output, and a router DRC output; and a data register having an input coupled to the TDI input, an output coupled to the TDO output, and a data register DRC input coupled to the router DRC output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Publication number: 20250102569
    Abstract: This disclosure describes die test architectures that can be implemented in a first, middle and last die of a die stack. The die test architectures are mainly the same, but for the exceptions mentioned in this disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Publication number: 20250093404
    Abstract: An integrated circuit die includes a substrate of semiconductor material having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an opening through the substrate between the top surface and the bottom surface. A through silicon via (TSV) has a conductive body in the opening, has a top contact point coupled to the body at the top surface, and has a bottom contact point coupled to the body at the bottom surface. A scan cell has a serial input, a serial output, control inputs, a voltage reference input, a response input coupled to one of the contact points, and a stimulus output coupled to the other one of the contact points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Publication number: 20250085343
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for improving the operation of a TAP architecture in a device through the use of Command signal inputs to the TAP architecture. In response to a Command signal input, the TAP architecture can perform streamlined and uninterrupted Update, Capture and Shift operation cycles to a target circuit in the device or streamlined and uninterrupted capture and shift operation cycles to a target circuit in the device. The Command signals can be input to the TAP architecture via the devices dedicated TMS or TDI inputs or via a separate CMD input to the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Publication number: 20250087539
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for testing different types of TSVs in a single die or different types of TSV connections in a stack of die. The testing is facilitated by test circuitry associated with each type of TSV. The test circuitry includes a scan cell adapted for testing TSVs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Publication number: 20250052811
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a process and apparatus for accessing devices on a substrate. The substrate may include only full pin JTAG devices (504), only reduced pin JTAG devices (506), or a mixture of both full pin and reduced pin JTAG devices. The access is accomplished using a single interface (502) between the substrate (408) and a JTAG controller (404). The access interface may be a wired interface or a wireless interface and may be used for JTAG based device testing, debugging, programming, or other type of JTAG based operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 12210060
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatuses for allowing a controller to select and access different types of access ports in a device. The selecting and accessing of the access ports is achieved using only the dedicated TDI, TMS, TCK, and TDO signal terminals of the device. The selecting and accessing of device access ports can be achieved when a single device is connected to the controller, when multiple devices are placed in a daisy-chain arrangement and connected to the controller, or when multiple devices are placed in a addressable parallel arrangement and connected to the controller. Additional embodiments are also provided and described in the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 12188980
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a novel method and apparatus for inputting addresses to devices to select the device TAP for access. Further, the disclosure provides a novel method and apparatus for inputting addresses for selecting device TAPs and for inputting commands for commanding circuitry within the device. The inputting of addresses or the inputting of addresses and commands is initiated by a control bit input on TDI that is recognized during the Run Test/Idle, Pause-DR or Pause-IR TAP states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 12181521
    Abstract: In some examples, an integrated circuit comprises: a TDI input, a TDO output, a TCK input and a TMS input; a TAP state machine (TSM) having an input coupled to the TCK input, an input coupled to the TMS input, an instruction register control output, a TSM data register control (DRC) output, and a TSM state output; an instruction register having an input coupled to the TDI input, an output coupled to the TDO output, and a control input coupled to the instruction register control output of the TAP state machine; router circuitry including a TSM DRC input coupled to the TSM DRC output, a control DRC input coupled to the TSM state output, and a router DRC output; and a data register having an input coupled to the TDI input, an output coupled to the TDO output, and a data register DRC input coupled to the router DRC output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 12163998
    Abstract: An integrated circuit die includes a substrate of semiconductor material having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an opening through the substrate between the top surface and the bottom surface. A through silicon via (TSV) has a conductive body in the opening, has a top contact point coupled to the body at the top surface, and has a bottom contact point coupled to the body at the bottom surface. A scan cell has a serial input, a serial output, control inputs, a voltage reference input, a response input coupled to one of the contact points, and a stimulus output coupled to the other one of the contact points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 12164001
    Abstract: This disclosure describes die test architectures that can be implemented in a first, middle and last die of a die stack. The die test architectures are mainly the same, but for the exceptions mentioned in this disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Publication number: 20240402247
    Abstract: An address and command port interface selectively enables JTAG TAP domain operations and Trace domain operations within an IC. The port carries TMS and TDI input and TDO output on a single pin and receives a clock signal on a separate pin. The addressable two pin interface loads and updates instructions and data to the TAP domain within the IC. The instruction or data update operations in multiple ICs occur simultaneously. A process transmits data from an addressed target device to a controller using data frames, each data frame comprising a header bit and data bits. The logic level of the header bit is used to start, continue, and stop the data transmission to the controller. A data and clock signal interface between a controller and multiple target devices provides for each target device to be individually addressed and commanded to perform a JTAG or Trace operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 12154835
    Abstract: In one example, an integrated circuit comprises a die. The die has a first surface and a second surface, the second surface opposite to the first surface. The die also includes: a first contact on the first surface and a second contact on the second surface; a through silicon via having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the first contact and the second end coupled to the second contact; and a scan cell having a control input, a response input, and a stimulus output, the response input coupled to the first end and the stimulus output coupled to the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 12153090
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for improving the operation of a TAP architecture in a device through the use of Command signal inputs to the TAP architecture. In response to a Command signal input, the TAP architecture can perform streamlined and uninterrupted Update, Capture and Shift operation cycles to a target circuit in the device or streamlined and uninterrupted capture and shift operation cycles to a target circuit in the device. The Command signals can be input to the TAP architecture via the devices dedicated TMS or TDI inputs or via a separate CMD input to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Publication number: 20240385244
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for making device TAPs addressable to allow device TAPs to be accessed in a parallel arrangement without the need for having a unique TMS signal for each device TAP in the arrangement. According to the disclosure, device TAPs are addressed by inputting an address on the TDI input of devices on the falling edge of TCK. An address circuit within the device is associated with the device's TAP and responds to the address input to either enable or disable access of the device's TAP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 12146909
    Abstract: An address and command port interface selectively enables JTAG TAP domain operations and Trace domain operations within an IC. The port carries TMS and TDI input and TDO output on a single pin and receives a clock signal on a separate pin. The addressable two pin interface loads and updates instructions and data to the TAP domain within the IC. The instruction or data update operations in multiple ICs occur simultaneously. A process transmits data from an addressed target device to a controller using data frames, each data frame comprising a header bit and data bits. The logic level of the header bit is used to start, continue, and stop the data transmission to the controller. A data and clock signal interface between a controller and multiple target devices provides for each target device to be individually addressed and commanded to perform a JTAG or Trace operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 12130328
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a process and apparatus for accessing devices on a substrate. The substrate may include only full pin JTAG devices (504), only reduced pin JTAG devices (506), or a mixture of both full pin and reduced pin JTAG devices. The access is accomplished using a single interface (502) between the substrate (408) and a JTAG controller (404). The access interface may be a wired interface or a wireless interface and may be used for JTAG based device testing, debugging, programming, or other type of JTAG based operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel