Plural Scan Paths Patents (Class 714/729)
  • Patent number: 11624782
    Abstract: A core partition circuit comprises a first decompression circuit, a second decompression circuit, a first switching circuit, an wrapper scanning circuit, a first compression circuit, a second compression circuit and a second switching circuit. The first and second decompression circuits decompress an input signal. The first switching circuit outputs the output signal of the first decompression circuit or the second decompression circuit according to a first control signal. The wrapper scanning circuit receives the output signal of the first decompression circuit or the second decompression circuit to scan the internal or the port of the core partition circuit. The first and second compression circuits respectively compress the internal logic and the port logic of the core partition circuit. The second switching circuit outputs the compressed internal logic or port logic of the core partition circuit according to the first control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: SHANGHAI ZHAOXIN SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yunhao Xing, Huafeng Xiao, Peng Wang
  • Patent number: 11619668
    Abstract: An integrated circuit with self-test circuit is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Daniel Tille, Heiko Ahrens, Jens Rosenbusch
  • Patent number: 11520394
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing power consumption of a multi-die device, such as a network processor FPGA (npFPGA). The multi-die device may include hardware resources such as FPGA dies, which may be coupled to NIC dies and/or memory dies. Power consumption of the multi-die device may be reduced by monitoring usage of hardware resources in the multi-die device, identifying hardware resources that are not in use, and gating power to the identified hardware resources. The status of processing elements (PEs) in the multi-die device may be tracked in a PE state table. Based on the PE state table, tasks from a task queue may be assigned to one or more processing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Krishnan Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 11513153
    Abstract: A control system, that includes a primary controller and various auxiliary controllers, is configured to facilitate a built-in self-test (BIST) of a system-on-chip (SoC). The primary controller is configured to initiate a BIST sequence associated with the SoC. Based on the BIST sequence initiation, each auxiliary controller is configured to schedule execution of various self-test operations on various functional circuits, various memories, and various logic circuits of the SoC by various functional BIST controllers, various memory BIST controllers, and various logic BIST controllers of the SoC, respectively. Based on the execution of the self-test operations, each auxiliary controller further generates various status bits with each status bit indicating whether at least one functional circuit, at least one memory, or at least one logic circuit is faulty. Based on the status bits generated by each auxiliary controller, a fault diagnosis of the SoC is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Rohan Poudel, Anurag Jindal, Joseph Rollin Wright, Nipun Mahajan, Shruti Singla, Hemant Nautiyal
  • Patent number: 11455222
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for testing many-core processors consisting of processing element cores. The systems and methods can include grouping the processing elements according to the dataflow of the many-core processor. Each group can include a processing element that only receives inputs from other processing elements in the group. After grouping the processing elements, test information can be provided in parallel to each group. The test information can be configured to ensure a desired degree of test coverage for the processing element that that only receives inputs from other processing elements in the group. Each group can perform testing operations in parallel to generate test results. The test results can be read out of each group. The processing elements can then be regrouped according to the dataflow of the many-core processor and the testing can be repeated to achieve a target test coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
    Inventors: Chunsheng Meon Liu, Arjun Chaudhuri, Zhibin Xiao
  • Patent number: 11397841
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a logic circuit including a first scan chain configured to operate based on a first clock signal and a second scan chain configured to operate based on a second clock signal in a built-in self-test; a pattern generator configured to generate a test pattern and transmit the test pattern to the first and second scan chains; a compression circuit configured to compress first data received from the first and second scan chains; a clock select circuit configured to select one of the first and second clock signals and transmit the one of the first and second clock signals to the corresponding one of the first and second scan chains in the test; and a test control circuit configured to control the test and detect a fault in the logic circuit based on a result of the test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11320487
    Abstract: A circuit comprises: scan chains comprising scan cells, the scan chains configured to shift in test patterns, apply the test patterns to the circuit, capture test responses of the circuit, and shift out the test responses; a decompressor configured to decompress compressed test patterns into the test patterns; a test response compactor configured to compact the test responses; and shuffler circuitry inserted between outputs of the scan chains and inputs of the test response compactor, the shuffler circuitry comprising state elements configured to delay output signals from some of the scan chains for one or more clock cycles based on a control signal, the control signal varying with the test patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY SOFTWARE INC.
    Inventors: Wu-Tung Cheng, Chen Wang, Mark A. Kassab
  • Patent number: 11302415
    Abstract: Disclosed is a row address comparator with voltage level shifting and latching functionality and including: an evaluation section for comparing two row addresses in a first voltage domain and outputting an initial match signal in a second voltage domain; and a latch section for outputting a latched final match signal based on the initial match signal. The comparator employs a first clock signal (CLK1), a second clock signal (CLK2) that is different from CLK1 and a third clock signal (CLK3) that is inverted with respect to CLK2. CLKs 1 and 2 control pre-charge and evaluation operations within the evaluation section with CLK2 being set to minimize hold time. CLKs 2 and 3 control the latch operation within the latch section. Feedback loops in both sections enhance performance. Also disclosed are a control circuit that incorporates the comparator and a method for implementing row redundancy in a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte, Ltd.
    Inventors: Venkatraghavan Bringivijayaraghavan, Sreejith Chidambaran, Prasad Vernekar
  • Patent number: 11262403
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes: a first scan chain and a second scan chain each including a plurality of cascaded flip-flops; a plurality of power supply lines that supply a power supply voltage to the first and second scan chains, extend in a first direction, and are arranged in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; and a clock control circuit that supplies a first clock to the first scan chain and a second clock to the second scan chain, the second clock having timing different to that of the first clock. The plurality of flip-flops are arranged along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Watanabe, Toshiaki Dozaka
  • Patent number: 11256839
    Abstract: A scan chain engine can determine a set number of EXTEST scan chains for the IP block and based on a predetermined maximum number of EXTEST wrapper cells per EXTEST scan chain. The scan chain engine iteratively executes partitioning on the IP block to generate a set of partitions. Each partition in the set of partitions has a number of EXTEST wrapper cells that does not exceed the maximum number of EXTEST wrapper cells per EXTEST scan chain. The scan chain engine selectively merges partitions of the set of partitions to form a set of populated partitions that each include an EXTEST wrapper cell. The number of partitions is equal to the set number of EXTEST scan chains for the IP block. The scan chain engine generates wire paths connecting EXTEST wrapper cells of each populated partition to construct the set number of EXTEST scan chains for the IP block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Vivek Chickermane, Subhasish Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 11250928
    Abstract: A system comprises a testing mode register, a set of pins, and a test access port controller. The test access port controller initiates a first testing mode by configuring the set of pins according to a first pin protocol. The test access port controller configures a first pin to receive first test pattern data based on a first convention and configures a second pin to output first test result data based on the first test pattern data. Based on detecting a register command stored in the testing mode register, the test access port controller initiates a second testing mode by configuring the set of pins according to a second pin protocol. The test access port controller configures the first pin to receive a second test pattern data generated based on a second convention and configures the second pin to output a second test result data based on the second test pattern data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Richard Spica
  • Patent number: 11243252
    Abstract: A method includes disconnecting a data bus connecting a test access port (TAP) controller of an integrated circuit (IC) chip to a plurality of test data registers deployed on the chip, simultaneously supplying test data to multiple test data registers among the plurality of test data registers, and storing test response data, received from the plurality of test data registers and responsive to the test data, in storage registers deployed on the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Venkatasubramanian Seetharaman, Chuanyun Fan, Fanchen Zhang, Jing Tu, Abby Huggins Lee, Thomas Karabinas
  • Patent number: 11204857
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes a plurality of intellectual properties (IPs), each of the plurality of IPs includes a test logic. A first memory controller provides user data received from at least one of the plurality of IPs to a first memory in a first operation mode. A scanner gathers debugging data from the test logics of the plurality of IPs in a second operation mode. And a second memory controller receives the debugging data from the scanner and provides the debugging data to the first memory in the second operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung-Il Woo
  • Patent number: 11188407
    Abstract: When a computer boots up, a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) configures system memory to have a crash memory area within the system address map, which can be used by a processor to dump crash memory data. When an error event occurs, the processor can initiate a dump to the crash memory area. Any desired data can be placed into the crash memory area, but typical data can include a state of registers in the processor. The processor then sets a flag, such as an external pin, indicating that the crash memory data is ready to be read. The flag can be read by a secure processor, which then reads the crash memory area at normal memory access speeds using the system bus. For example, the secure processor can access the crash memory area using Direct Memory Access (DMA) reads over a PCIe system bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Charles Swanson, Troy Lawson Bevis, Nathan Pritchard, Christopher James BeSerra
  • Patent number: 11156661
    Abstract: A circuit comprises a scan chain comprising one or more multi-bit flip-flops, a plurality of multiplexers, and new scan enable signal generation circuitry. Each of the plurality of multiplexers is associated with a particular bit of the one or more multi-bit flip-flops with an output of the each of the plurality of multiplexers coupled to a data input of the particular bit, which is configured to select, based on a scan direction control signal, between an input signal from functional circuitry of the circuit and an input signal from a data output of a bit of the scan chain immediately following the particular bit in a normal scan shift direction. The new scan enable signal generation circuitry is configured to generate a new scan enable signal for the one or more multi-bit flip-flops based on the scan direction control signal and a scan enable signal for the scan chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Industry Software Inc.
    Inventors: Wu-Tung Cheng, Szczepan Urban, Jakub Janicki, Manish Sharma, Yu Huang
  • Patent number: 11156664
    Abstract: Testing systems and method of testing an integrated circuit are provided. A testing system comprises an input terminal, multiple circuit elements, each having a register, and an output terminal forming a scan chain through which an input signal is propagated. The testing system further comprises a debugger that includes a mapping module that stores information mapping register values to their respective functional meanings. The input signal is applied to extract all values of all of the registers whether or not accessible by a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Yisu Hai, Jonguk Song
  • Patent number: 11106848
    Abstract: This application discloses a computing system implementing an automatic test pattern generation tool can generate test patterns to apply to a reversible scan chain in an integrated circuit. The reversible scan chain can be configured to serially load and unload the test patterns in multiple directions to generate test responses. The computing system can implement a defect diagnosis tool to detect a presence of a suspected defect associated with the reversible scan chain based on the test responses, identify which of the multiple directions used to load and unload the test patterns corresponds to the suspected defect in the reversible scan chain based on the test responses, and determine a portion of the integrated circuit to inspect for a manufacturing fault corresponding to the suspected defect based, at least in part, on the identification of which of the multiple directions corresponds to the suspected defect in the reversible scan chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Industry Software Inc.
    Inventors: Wu-Tung Cheng, Szczepan Urban, Jakub Janicki, Manish Sharma, Yu Huang
  • Patent number: 10997343
    Abstract: An emulation system may include an emulator. The emulator may include at least one chip and at least one FPGA. The chip may be associated with the FPGA. The FPGA may operate as a coprocessor to implement in-system scan test of the chip. In a scan mode of the in-system scan test, the coprocessor may transmit one or more in-system test instructions to the chip through its existing connections with the chip. The coprocessor may capture test response data from the chip in response to the one or more in-system test instructions through its existing connections with the chip. In an offline mode, the coprocessor may compare the test response data with expected response data to determine if the chips are functioning correctly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell Poplack, Xiaolei Guo, Phung Truong, Justin Schmelzer
  • Patent number: 10971242
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods, systems, and circuitry for memory arrays. A system for testing a memory array having self-test circuitry includes a register having register latches operable to receive error logic signals having respective first states or second states. The register latches are arranged in series having respective latch inputs cascaded with preceding latch outputs operable to shift the error logic signals to a serial output according to a control signal that is common to the register latches. The system includes an aggregate latch operable to receive the serial output and having input logic configured to maintain a first state of the aggregate latch until the serial output is a second state. The system includes a built-in self-test (BIST) engine including stored instructions operable upon execution by the BIST engine to output the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Huott, Daniel Rodko, Pradip Patel
  • Patent number: 10972291
    Abstract: A method for securing the communications between a publisher and a subscriber in an Internet of things networks. An example method includes receiving a challenge vector from a subscriber and determining a response vector using a physically unclonable function (PUF) for each challenge value in the challenge vector to generate a response value. The response vector it is sent to the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Davide Carboni, Michael Nolan, Ned M. Smith, Mo Haghighi
  • Patent number: 10946287
    Abstract: A computer device comprises a user interface configured to display time information associated with a feature. The time information indicates when the feature will change from one of being available and unavailable to the other of being available and unavailable. The time information changes at a first rate. At least one processor is configured, in response to a user interaction via the user interface, to cause the user interface to display content, the time information being configured to change at a second different rate while the content is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: KING.COM LTD.
    Inventor: Johan Acevedo
  • Patent number: 10871518
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a systematic defect in a circuit under test is provided. Elements of the circuit under test converted into scan cells. A first scan chain that includes a first plurality of scan cells is formed. Each scan cell of the first plurality of scan cells of the first scan chain are of a first cell type. The first scan chain contains a first scan input and a first scan output. A first test pattern is applied at the scan input and a first test output is collected for the applied first test pattern at the first scan output. The collected first test output is compared with a first expected test output. The first cell type is marked to be a suspect for a systematic defect when the first test output is different from the first expected test output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Sandeep Kumar Goel, Yun-Han Lee, Ankita Patidar
  • Patent number: 10855476
    Abstract: There is disclosed a silicon integrated circuit comprising a Physically Unclonable Function and an online or embedded test circuit, said online test circuit comprising one or more circuit parts being physically adjacent to said PUF and said one or more circuits embodying one or more tests which can be performed to determine one or more quality properties of said PUF or otherwise characterize it. Different tests with specific associated method steps are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SECURE-IC SAS
    Inventors: Rachid Dafali, Jean-Luc Danger, Sylvain Guilley, Florent Lozac'h
  • Patent number: 10845415
    Abstract: The disclosure describes novel methods and apparatuses for accessing test compression architectures (TCA) in a device using either a parallel or serial access technique. The serial access technique may be controlled by a device tester or by a JTAG controller. Further the disclosure provides an approach to access the TCA of a device when the device exists in a daisy-chain arrangement with other devices, such as in a customer's system. Additional embodiments are also provided and described in the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 10817644
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to testing structures and, more particularly, to a circuit and method for design of RF integrated circuits for process control monitoring. The circuit includes a radio frequency integrated circuit comprising a plurality of active NFET devices and passive devices arranged in a single topography; and a plurality of NFET switches which are configurable to diagnose physical failures of the plurality of active NFET devices and the passive devices by isolating selected ones of the plurality of active NFET devices and the passive devices into different built-in circuit topologies by selectively turning on and off the plurality of active NFET devices and the passive devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Varun Gupta, Wendy Wee Yee Lau, Szu Huat Goh
  • Patent number: 10796041
    Abstract: Systems, methods, media, and other such embodiments described herein relate to improved operation of test devices which verify circuit operations. One embodiment involves accessing a circuit design comprising a plurality of instances of one or more blocks, where each block of the one or more blocks is associated with a corresponding block test pattern comprising one or more test subpatterns. Each corresponding block test pattern is processed to identify independent test subpatterns, and then each instance is processed to identify each independent test subpattern for the circuit design. Similar types of independent test subpatterns are merged into a circuit design test pattern, such that at least two of the independent test subpatterns associated with the circuit design occupy shared test cycles within the circuit design test pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Khurana, Vivek Chickermane, Divyank Mittal, Balveer Singh Koranga
  • Patent number: 10677844
    Abstract: A logic BIST circuits concurrently execute a first scan test for a scan chain as a target and a second scan test for a scan chain as a target, when they are set to a an LBIST mode, and execute the first scan test without executing the second scan test, when they are set to a simultaneous test mode. Memory BIST circuits execute a test for memory circuits concurrently with the first scan test, when they are set to the simultaneous test mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Iwao Suzuki, Naoki Kato
  • Patent number: 10585144
    Abstract: A falling edge controller includes a controller having an inverted TCK (Test Clock) input, a TMS (Test Mode Select) input, a shift register control output, an update register control output, and a shift output; a shift register having a TDI (Test Data In) input, a shift register control input coupled to the shift register control output, address inputs, a select input, address and select outputs, and a TDO (Test Data Out) output; an update register having address and select inputs coupled to the address and select outputs, an update register control input coupled to the update register control output, address outputs coupled to the address inputs, and a select output coupled to the select input; and address circuitry having address inputs coupled to the address outputs, and having an enable output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 10387668
    Abstract: Embodiments provided in this disclosure include a method, computer program product, and system for protecting sensitive data in a processing system comprising a plurality of processor cores. The method includes designating at least one processor core for processing sensitive data, and during a dump event, capturing data from each of the plurality of processor cores except the designated processor core to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Corville O. Allen, Lee N. Helgeson, Russel L. Young
  • Patent number: 10372925
    Abstract: Embodiments provided in this disclosure include a method, computer program product, and system for protecting sensitive data in a processing system comprising a plurality of processor cores. The method includes designating at least one processor core for processing sensitive data, and during a dump event, capturing data from each of the plurality of processor cores except the designated processor core to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Corville O. Allen, Lee N. Helgeson, Russel L. Young
  • Patent number: 10371750
    Abstract: A method and test circuit are provided for implementing enhanced scan data testing with minimization of over masking in an on product multiple input signature register (OPMISR) test, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides. Common Channel Mask Scan Registers (CMSR) data is used with a multiple input signature register (MISR) in each satellite. A test algorithm control is used for implementing enhanced scan data testing by independently skewing scan unload shifting of selected OPMISR+ satellite by selected cycles. With this modified shifting, for the same test or a repeated run of the test, Channel Mask Enable (CME) triggered masking lines up on a different bit position in channels of each satellite avoiding over masking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Douskey, Mary P. Kusko, Matthew B. Schallhorn
  • Patent number: 10324131
    Abstract: The present disclosure provide techniques for semiconductor testing, and more particularly, to systems and methods for laser-based fault isolation and design for testability (DFT) diagnosis techniques. In one embodiment, an integrated chip (IC) testing apparatus, includes an input pin; a decompressor connected to the input pin; a plurality of scan chains, each scan chain of the plurality of scan chains comprising a plurality of scan cells; a plurality of scan chain control elements, each scan chain control element of the plurality of scan chain control elements being connected between the decompressor and a respective scan chain of the plurality of scan chains, wherein each scan chain control element is configured to enable or disable test data from flowing from the compressor to the respective scan chain; a compressor connected to an output of each scan chain of the plurality of scan chains; and an output pin connected to the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Lesly Endrinal, Rakesh Kinger, Joseph Fang, Srinivas Patil, Lavakumar Ranganathan, Chia-Ying Chen
  • Patent number: 10234503
    Abstract: A circuit debugging method includes: utilizing a debugging circuit to determine an operating status of a specific circuit to generate a result; utilizing a register located in a scan chain path to store the result, wherein the scan chain path is arranged for a scan test; and utilizing an output pad located in the scan chain path to output the result, wherein the result is arranged to be indicative of the operating status of the specific circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Chun-Yi Kuo, Ying-Yen Chen, Jih-Nung Lee
  • Patent number: 10222419
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are provided for the tuning of embedded subsystems of a device under test (DUT) that have analog characteristics. In response to a tester invoking one or more test procedures via a command channel between the tester and a target embedded subsystem of the DUT, test firmware of the invoked tests is loaded into the target embedded subsystem. The target embedded subsystem executes the tests under control of the tester in accordance with test parameters received from the tester over the command channel and in accordance with test commands received from the tester over a test signaling channel. The target embedded subsystem returns results of the one or more tests to the tester via the command channel. The results can be used to trim analog characteristics of the target embedded subsystem and can be stored in memory. The test firmware can then be deleted to free up memory space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Arm Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Lewis Cross, Brian Alan Nagel
  • Patent number: 10215807
    Abstract: The disclosure describes novel methods and apparatuses for accessing test compression architectures (TCA) in a device using either a parallel or serial access technique. The serial access technique may be controlled by a device tester or by a JTAG controller. Further the disclosure provides an approach to access the TCA of a device when the device exists in a daisy-chain arrangement with other devices, such as in a customer's system. Additional embodiments are also provided and described in the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 10215806
    Abstract: The disclosure describes novel methods and apparatuses for accessing test compression architectures (TCA) in a device using either a parallel or serial access technique. The serial access technique may be controlled by a device tester or by a JTAG controller. Further the disclosure provides an approach to access the TCA of a device when the device exists in a daisy-chain arrangement with other devices, such as in a customer's system. Additional embodiments are also provided and described in the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 10110226
    Abstract: Exemplary method, computer-accessible medium, and test configuration can be provided for testing at least one flip-flop. For example, the exemplary test configuration can include at least one scan-out channel having a plurality of regions and a plurality of compactors associated with the plurality of regions. Further, exemplary method, computer-accessible medium, and test configuration can be provided for testing at least on flip-flop that in which at least one scan-out channel having a plurality of regions, a plurality of compactors, and associating the plurality of compactors with the plurality of regions can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Ozgur Sinanoglu
  • Patent number: 10036777
    Abstract: An IC includes an IEEE 1149.1 standard test access port (TAP) interface and an additional Off-Chip TAP interface. The Off-Chip TAP interface connects to the TAP of another IC. The Off Chip TAP interface can be selected by a TAP Linking Module on the IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 10024914
    Abstract: A method and system of testing an integrated circuit (IC), using a multiple input shift register (MISR) with supporting hardware for diagnosing failure locations in an IC with built-in self-test (BIST) logic, including an On-Product MISR. The system includes BIST logic of a circuit under test (CUT) and a tester including an isolation hash table (IHT) that translates signature fail data of the MISR to a failure location of a latch in the CUT. Signature fail data, and consequently, failure locations in the CUT, are obtained by standard testing of the CUT, testing of selected single channels of the CUT, and data insertion functions to the selected single channels of the CUT to obtain compressed MISR signature changes that, when translated, provide failure locations in the CUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Steven M. Douskey, Amanda R. Kaufer, Leah Marie Pfeifer Pastel
  • Patent number: 10018675
    Abstract: A programmable integrated circuit may implement a safety function in a first region and a non-safety function in a second region of the programmable integrated circuit. The safety function may require that periodic tests verify the integrity of the programmable integrated circuit during safety test intervals. For this purpose, the programmable integrated circuit may halt the operation of the safety function, partially reconfigure the first region by loading a test function, and execute the test function, while the non-safety function in the second region continues to operate. In the event that the test function executed successfully without finding any defects, the programmable integrated circuit may partially reconfigure the first region by re-loading the safety function. Additional tests may be performed if the test function detected problems with the integrity of the programmable integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventors: Adam Titley, Roger May
  • Patent number: 9966957
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a shift register and a driving method thereof, a gate driving circuit and a display device. The shift register includes a control signal generation module, a first low level pulse generation module, a second low level pulse generation module, and a high level pulse generation module. The control signal generation module generates a first control signal and a second control signal. The first low level pulse generation module receives the first control signal and the second control signal and generate a first low level pulse signal. The second low level pulse generation module receives the first control signal and the second control signal and generate a second low level pulse signal. The high level pulse generation module receives the first control signal and generates a high level pulse signal. This shift register reduces the number of circuit elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Can Zheng, Song Song
  • Patent number: 9903912
    Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of components, scan chain selection logic coupled to the components, and override selection logic coupled to the scan chain selection logic. The scan chain selection logic selects various of the components to be members of a scan chain under the direction of a host computer. The override selection logic detects a change in the scan chain and, as a result, blocks the entire scan chain from progressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary L. Swoboda, Robert A. McGowan
  • Patent number: 9891282
    Abstract: Described is a signature accumulator with a first set of logic devices, a second set of logic devices, and a memory device. The first set of logic devices includes compaction logic that couples an N-bit input bus to a K-bit first intermediate bus. The second set of logic devices includes commutative arithmetic operation logic that couples both the K-bit first intermediate bus and a K-bit signature bus to a K-bit second intermediate bus. The memory storage device includes a storage element that couples the K-bit second intermediate bus to the K-bit signature bus. The K-bit signature bus is also coupled to a valid-data input signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Lakshminarayana Pappu, Robert P. Adler, Suketu U. Bhatt, Robert De Gruijl, Kah Meng Yeem
  • Patent number: 9797946
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a scan test system for an integrated circuit comprising multiple processing elements. The system comprises at least one scan input component and at least one scan clock component. Each scan input component is configured to provide a scan input to at least two processing elements. Each scan clock component is configured to provide a scan clock signal to at least two processing elements. The system further comprises at least one scan select component for selectively enabling a scan of at least one processing element. Each processing element is configured to scan in a scan input and scan out a scan output when said the processing element is scan-enabled. The system further comprises an exclusive-OR tree comprising multiple exclusive-OR logic gates. The said exclusive-OR tree generates a parity value representing a parity of all scan outputs scanned out from all scan-enabled processing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rodrigo Alvarez-Icaza Rivera, John V. Arthur, Andrew S. Cassidy, Bryan L. Jackson, Paul A. Merolla, Dharmendra S. Modha, Jun Sawada
  • Patent number: 9778316
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are exemplary embodiments of a so-called “X-press” test response compactor. Certain embodiments of the disclosed compactor comprise an overdrive section and scan chain selection logic. Certain embodiments of the disclosed technology offer compaction ratios on the order of 1000×. Exemplary embodiments of the disclosed compactor can maintain about the same coverage and about the same diagnostic resolution as that of conventional scan-based test scenarios. Some embodiments of a scan chain selection scheme can significantly reduce or entirely eliminate unknown states occurring in test responses that enter the compactor. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of on-chip comparator circuits and methods for generating control circuitry for masking selection circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Janusz Rajski, Jerzy Tyszer, Grzegorz Mrugalski, Mark Kassab, Wu-Tung Cheng
  • Patent number: 9671463
    Abstract: A falling edge controller includes a controller having an inverted TCK (Test Clock) input, a TMS (Test Mode Select) input, a shift register control output, an update register control output, and a shift output; a shift register having a TDI (Test Data In) input, a shift register control input coupled to the shift register control output, address inputs, a select input, address and select outputs, and a TDO (Test Data Out) output; an update register having address and select inputs coupled to the address and select outputs, an update register control input coupled to the update register control output, address outputs coupled to the address inputs, and a select output coupled to the select input; and address circuitry having address inputs coupled to the address outputs, and having an enable output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Instuments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 9632140
    Abstract: An integrated circuit is configured to receive a test clock input and includes circuitry configured to generate test clocks from the test clock input, and test circuitry configured to use the test clocks in a test mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.
    Inventors: Anirudha Kulkarni, Jasvir Singh
  • Patent number: 9612283
    Abstract: A system comprises a plurality of components, scan chain selection logic coupled to the components, and override selection logic coupled to the scan chain selection logic. The scan chain selection logic selects various of the components to be members of a scan chain under the direction of a host computer. The override selection logic detects a change in the scan chain and, as a result, blocks the entire scan chain from progressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary L. Swoboda, Robert A. McGowan
  • Patent number: 9557382
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip includes a first circuit block, a second circuit block, an inter-block circuit and a control circuit. The first circuit block is configured to form a first scan chain to set states of flip-flops in the first circuit block. The second circuit block is configured to form a second scan chain to set states of flip-flops in the second circuit block. The inter-block circuit interfaces the first circuit block and the second circuit block. The control circuit is configured to load a first portion and a second portion of a test pattern separately to the first scan chain and the second scan chain to set states of flip-flops in the first circuit block and the second circuit block, enable a test of the inter-block circuit to capture a test result, and unload the test result from the first scan chain and the second scan chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Marvell Israel (M.I.S.L) Ltd.
    Inventor: Alexander Gurtovnik
  • Patent number: RE47864
    Abstract: Performing series equivalent scans spanning a plurality of scan technologies in a complex scan topology may be performed by performing shift operations in the complex scan topology while only one branch of the complex scan topology connectivity is enabled, and performing capture and update operations in parallel while scan topology connectivity of two or more of the plurality of scan technologies is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Gary L. Swoboda