Patents by Inventor Michael Timothy Saunders

Michael Timothy Saunders 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: 7085980
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for testing one or more electrical components. The apparatus and method execute similar portions of a test segment on a known device, i.e., a device for which it has been determined that the test segment executes successfully, and on a device-under-test (DUT), i.e., a device for which it has been determined that the test segment does not execute successfully. The results of the tests are compared to determine if the test passed or failed. The test segment is executed iteratively on the known device and the DUT, increasing or decreasing the amount of the test segment that is executed each pass until the failing instruction is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pedro Martin-de-Nicolas, Charles Leverett Meissner, Michael Timothy Saunders
  • Patent number: 6976199
    Abstract: In an LSSD/LBIST scan design, AC scan test coverage is enhanced with a scan chain configuration capable of selectively inverting scan-in signals. For example, one or more XOR gates are inserted in the scan chain. The XOR gates is controlled by a control signal preferably coming from a primary input such that original scan-in signals as well as inverted scan-in signals are shifted into the scan chain. The proposed configuration significantly enhances the AC test coverage for a scan chain having adjacent SRLs feeding the same cone of logic by adding a simple logic circuit such as an XOR gate between the adjacent SRLs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Walter Berry, Jr., Michael Timothy Saunders
  • Patent number: 6973607
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for testing one or more processors. The apparatus and method provide a host computer that issues test case information. The test case information is translated from the architecture used by a host computer to the architecture required by the electronic components. The processors are then able to perform the test case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Heinz Baier, Robert Francis Berry, Michael Criscolo, Pedro Martin-de-Nicolas, Michael Timothy Saunders, Kanti C. Shah
  • Patent number: 6941504
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for testing one or more electrical components. The apparatus and method provide a CRC function that is used to calculate a CRC value for a portion of memory. The CRC value is compared with an expected CRC value to determine if the electrical component passed or failed the test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Walter Berry, Jr., Michael Criscolo, Pedro Martin-de-Nicolas, Charles Leverett Meissner, Michael Timothy Saunders
  • Publication number: 20030208710
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for testing one or more electrical components. The apparatus and method execute similar portions of a test segment on a known device, i.e., a device for which it has been determined that the test segment executes successfully, and on a device-under-test (DUT), i.e., a device for which it has been determined that the test segment does not execute successfully. The results of the tests are compared to determine if the test passed or failed. The test segment is executed iteratively on the known device and the DUT, increasing or decreasing the amount of the test segment that is executed each pass until the failing instruction is identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pedro Martin-de-Nicolas, Charles Leverett Meissner, Michael Timothy Saunders
  • Publication number: 20030131295
    Abstract: In an LSSD/LBIST scan design, AC scan test coverage is enhanced with a scan chain configuration capable of selectively inverting scan-in signals. For example, one or more XOR gates are inserted in the scan chain. The XOR gates is controlled by a control signal preferably coming from a primary input such that original scan-in signals as well as inverted scan-in signals are shifted into the scan chain. The proposed configuration significantly enhances the AC test coverage for a scan chain having adjacent SRLs feeding the same cone of logic by adding a simple logic circuit such as an XOR gate between the adjacent SRLs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Walter Berry, Michael Timothy Saunders
  • Publication number: 20030101394
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for testing one or more processors. The apparatus and method provide a host computer that issues test case information. The test case information is translated from the architecture used by a host computer to the architecture required by the electronic components. The processors are then able to perform the test case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Heinz Baier, Robert Walter Berry, Michael Criscolo, Pedro Martin-de-Nicolas, Michael Timothy Saunders, Kanti C. Shah
  • Publication number: 20030093743
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for testing one or more electrical components. The apparatus and method provide a CRC function that is used to calculate a CRC value for a portion of memory. The CRC value is compared with an expected CRC value to determine if the electrical component passed or failed the test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Walter Berry, Michael Criscolo, Pedro Martin-de-Nicolas, Charles Leverett Meissner, Michael Timothy Saunders