Patents by Inventor Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.

Lee D. Whetsel, Jr. 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: 6898544
    Abstract: A test cell (12) provides boundary scan testing in an integrated circuit (10). The test cell (12) comprises two memories, a flip-flop (24) and a latch (26), for storing test data. A first multiplexer (22) selectively connects one of a plurality of inputs to the flip-flop (24). The input of the latch (26) is connected to output of the flip-flop (24). The output of the latch (26) is connected to one input of a multiplexer (28), the second input to the multiplexer (28) being a data input (DIN) signal. A control bus (17) is provided for controlling the multiplexers (22, 28), flip-flop (24) and latch (26). The test cell allows input data to be observed and output data to be controlled simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6813738
    Abstract: A test cell (12) provides boundary scan testing in an integrated circuit (10). The test cell (12) comprises two memories, a flip-flop (24) and a latch (26), for storing test data. A first multiplexer (22) selectively connects one of a plurality of inputs to the flip-flop (24). The input of the latch (26) is connected to output of the flip-flop (24). The output of the latch (26) is connected to one input of a multiplexer (28), the second input to the multiplexer (28) being a data input (DIN) signal. A control bus (17) is provided for controlling the multiplexers (22, 28), flip-flop (24) and latch (26). The test cell allows input data to be observed and output data to be controlled simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6611934
    Abstract: A test cell (12) provides boundary scan testing in an integrated circuit (10). The test cell (12) comprises two memories, a flip-flop (24) and a latch (26), for storing test data. A first multiplexer (22) selectively connects one of a plurality of inputs to the flip-flop (24). The input of the latch (26) is connected to output of the flip-flop (24). The output of the latch (26) is connected to one input of a multiplexer (28), the second input to the multiplexer (28) being a data input (DIN) signal. A control bus (17) is provided for controlling the multiplexers (22, 28), flip-flop (24) and latch (26). The test cell allows input data to be observed and output data to be controlled simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6304987
    Abstract: A test cell (12) provides boundary scan testing in an integrated circuit (10). The test cell (12) comprises two memories, a flip-flop (24) and a latch (26), for storing test data. A first multiplexer (22) selectively connects one of a plurality of inputs to the flip-flop (24). The input of the latch (26) is connected to output of the flip-flop (24). The output of the latch (26) is connected to one input of a multiplexer (28), the second input to the multiplexer (28) being a data input (DIN) signal. A control bus (17) is provided for controlling the multiplexers (22, 28), flip-flop (24) and latch (26). The test cell allows input data to be observed and output data to be controlled simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6085344
    Abstract: A serial scan path communication architecture includes a plurality of circuits (30), some of which may include a memory (36). A memory access controller (38) is included on circuits with a memory (36) such that serial data may be written to and written from the memories without having to repetitively cycle through multiple shift operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr., Benjamin H. Ashmore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6081916
    Abstract: A test cell (12) provides boundary scan testing in an integrated circuit (10). The test cell (12) comprises two memories, a flip-flop (24) and a latch (26), for storing test data. A first multiplexer (22) selectively connects one of a plurality of inputs to the flip-flop (24). The input of the latch (26) is connected to output of the flip-flop (24). The output of the latch (26) is connected to one input of a multiplexer (28), the second input to the multiplexer (28) being a data input (DIN) signal. A control bus (17) is provided for controlling the multiplexers (22, 28), flip-flop (24) and latch (26). The test cell allows input data to be observed and output data to be controlled simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5687179
    Abstract: A serial scan path communication architecture includes a plurality of circuits (30), some of which may include a memory (36). A memory access controller (38) is included on circuits with a memory (36) such that serial data may be written to and written from the memories without having to repetitively cycle through multiple shift operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr., Benjamin H. Ashmore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5631911
    Abstract: A test cell (12) provides boundary scan testing in an integrated circuit (10). The test cell (12) comprises two memories, a flip-flop (24) and a latch (26), for storing test data. A first multiplexer (22) selectively connects one of a plurality of inputs to the flip-flop (24). The input of the latch (26) is connected to output of the flip-flop (24). The output of the latch (26) is connected to one input of a multiplexer (28), the second input to the multiplexer (28) being a data input (DIN) signal. A control bus (17) is provided for controlling the multiplexers (22, 28), flip-flop (24) and latch (26). The test cell allows input data to be observed and output data to be controlled simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5623500
    Abstract: An event qualification architecture comprises event qualification cells (24) having an internal memory for detecting qualification events. The event qualification cells (24) output a signal indicating when a match has occurred, which is interpreted by an event qualification module (22). The event qualification module controls the test circuitry which may include test cell registers (14, 16) and test memory (28). A number of protocols are provided which can be designed into a circuit to provide the timing and control required to activate test logic in the circuit during normal system operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5602855
    Abstract: A test cell (12) provides boundary scan testing in an integrated circuit (10). The test cell (12) comprises two memories, a flip-flop (24) and a latch (26), for storing test data. A first multiplexer (22) selectively connects one of a plurality of inputs to the flip-flop (24). The input of the latch (26) is connected to output of the flip-flop (24). The output of the latch (26) is connected to one input of a multiplexer (28), the second input to the multiplexer (28) being a data input (DIN) signal. A control bus (17) is provided for controlling the multiplexers (22, 28), flip-flop (24) and latch (26). The test cell allows input data to be observed and output data to be controlled simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5495487
    Abstract: A test cell (12) provides boundary scan testing in an integrated circuit (10). The test cell (12) comprises two memories, a flip-flop (24) and a latch (26), for storing test data. A first multiplexer (22) selectively connects one of a plurality of inputs to the flip-flop (24). The input of the latch (26) is connected to output of the flip-flop (24). The output of the latch (26) is connected to one input of a multiplexer (28), the second input to the multiplexer (28) being a data input (DIN) signal. A control bus (17) is provided for controlling the multiplexers (22, 28), flip-flop (24) and latch (26). The test cell allows input data to be observed and output data to be controlled simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5353308
    Abstract: An event qualification architecture comprises event qualification cells (24) having an internal memory for detecting qualification events. The event qualification cells (24) output a signal indicating when a match has occurred, which is interpreted by an event qualification module (22). The event qualification module controls the test circuitry which may include test cell registers (14, 16) and test memory (28). A number of protocols are provided which can be designed into a circuit to provide the timing and control required to activate test logic in the circuit during normal system operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5084874
    Abstract: A test cell (12) provides boundary scan testing in an integrated circuit (10). The test cell (12) comprises two memories, a flip-flop (24) and a latch (26), for storing test data. A first multiplexer (22) selectively connects one of a plurality of inputs to the flip-flop (24). The input of the latch (26) is connected to output of the flip-flop (24). The output of the latch (26) is connected to one input of a multiplexer (28), the second input to the multiplexer (28) being a data input (DIN) signal. A control bus (17) is provided for controlling the multiplexers (22, 28), flip-flop (24) and latch (26). The test cell allows input data to be observed and output data to be controlled simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4872169
    Abstract: A method of testing circuitry is by the application of scan design which consists of a series of shift registers or latches which form a serial scan path through a logic circuit. The scan path can be used to observe and control logic elements in the design via serial scan operations. The present invention allows a continuous scan path to be compressed or expanded so that the scan path only passes through the desired logic element(s) to be tested. Devices connected on the serial scan path (or ring) can be selected or deselected thus allowing the serial path to either flow through or bypass a given logic circuit's internal scan path. The invention can be used to create a hierarchical scan network consisting of a primary scan ring from which a multiplicity of scan sub-rings may be accessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4857835
    Abstract: Test logic may be included in the design of an integrated circuit (IC) to facilitate testability. In most instances, an IC's test logic can only be activated while the IC, or logic sections within the IC, are placed in a non-functional test mode. The present invention is directed toward an event qualification structure providing the timing and control required to activate an IC's test logic during normal functional operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel, Jr.