Patent US4752907A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4752907A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Integrated circuit scanning apparatus having scanning data lines for connecting selected data locations to an I/O terminal

Assignee: Fujitsu IT Holdings Inc
•
Filing: 1986-06-30
•
Granted: 1988-06-21
•
Expires: 2006-06-30
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A scan apparatus provides an interface and control signals between a secondary computer and data locations in a host computer. The scan apparatus functions independently of the normal operation of the host computer. Scan-out is performed transparently to the operation of the host computer. The host computer is constructed using circuits on semiconductor chips. The semiconductor chips are organized in blocks. Chips within each block include scan apparatus which controls the scan operations in connection with that chip. The scan apparatus in each chip is connected through two I/O pins to a clock line and to a bidirectional scan data line. The scan apparatus on each chip includes a multimode sequencer so that each chip in each block can be independently performing scan sequences. The block scan apparatus and the secondary computer perform the functions of requesting a scan sequence for transmitting the scan data.

Inventors

  • 👤 Stephen S. C. Si
  • 👤 James B. Shackleford
  • 👤 Daryl H. Allred

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 06:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/317; G01R31/3181; G01R31/3185; G01R31/318533; G01R31/318558; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/26; G06F11/273; G06F11/2733; G06F11/2268

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 226 words
In an integrated circuit having a normal function performing sequential logic, data locations having connections for use in execution of the normal function and a plurality of input-output terminals coupled to the circuit, an apparatus for scanning the contents of the data locations independent of the connections for use in execution of the normal function comprising: data line means, in communication with a first of the input-output terminals and the data locations, for selectively connecting the data locations to the first input-output terminal across connections separate from the connections for use in execution of the normal function; sequencer means for generating scan sequence signals identifying data locations to be scanned, wherein a second of the input-output terminals is connected to receive a scan clock signal, and the sequencer means is responsive to the scan clock signal for controlling the timing of the generation of the scan sequence signals; decoder means, in communication with the data line means and the sequencer means and responsive to the scan sequence signals, for controlling the selective connection of the data line means to the data locations identified by the scan sequence signals; and control logic, in communication with the sequencer means and connected to the first input-output terminal for receiving control input signals and to the second input-output terminal for receiving the scan clock signal, for controlling the sequencer means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 226 words
In an integrated circuit having a normal function performing sequential logic, data locations having connections for use in execution of the normal function and a plurality of input-output terminals coupled to the circuit, an apparatus for scanning the contents of the data locations independent of the connections for use in execution of the normal function comprising: data line means, in communication with a first of the input-output terminals and the data locations, for selectively connecting the data locations to the first input-output terminal across connections separate from the connections for use in execution of the normal function; sequencer means for generating scan sequence signals identifying data locations to be scanned, wherein a second of the input-output terminals is connected to receive a scan clock signal, and the sequencer means is responsive to the scan clock signal for controlling the timing of the generation of the scan sequence signals; decoder means, in communication with the data line means and the sequencer means and responsive to the scan sequence signals, for controlling the selective connection of the data line means to the data locations identified by the scan sequence signals; and control logic, in communication with the sequencer means and connected to the first input-output terminal for receiving control input signals and to the second input-output terminal for receiving the scan clock signal, for controlling the sequencer means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 254 words
In an integrated circuit having a normal function performing sequential logic, data locations having connections for use in execution of the normal function and a plurality of input-output terminals coupled to the circuit, an apparatus for scanning the contents of the data locations independent of the connections for use in execution of the normal function comprising: data line means, in communication with a first of the input-output terminals and the data locations, for selectively connecting the data locations to the first input-output terminal across connections separate from the connections for use in execution of the normal function; sequencer means for generating scan sequence signals identifying data locations to be scanned; decoder means, in communication with the data line means and the sequencer means and responsive to the scan sequence signals, for controlling the selective connection of the data line means to the data locations identified by the scan sequence signals; and control logic, in communication with the sequencer means, for controlling the sequencer means; wherein each of the data locations comprises: a sample and hold latch circuit, the connections for use in execution of the normal function including data-in and data-out lines, a clock sample input line, and a clock hold input line; the sample and hold latch circuit further including row and column input lines, connected to receive signals from the decoder means, for accessing the latch circuit; and a scan-out gate connected to the data line means enabled by said row and column input lines, providing a scan-out of the latch circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 254 words
In an integrated circuit having a normal function performing sequential logic, data locations having connections for use in execution of the normal function and a plurality of input-output terminals coupled to the circuit, an apparatus for scanning the contents of the data locations independent of the connections for use in execution of the normal function comprising: data line means, in communication with a first of the input-output terminals and the data locations, for selectively connecting the data locations to the first input-output terminal across connections separate from the connections for use in execution of the normal function; sequencer means for generating scan sequence signals identifying data locations to be scanned; decoder means, in communication with the data line means and the sequencer means and responsive to the scan sequence signals, for controlling the selective connection of the data line means to the data locations identified by the scan sequence signals; and control logic, in communication with the sequencer means, for controlling the sequencer means; wherein each of the data locations comprises: a sample and hold latch circuit, the connections for use in execution of the normal function including data-in and data-out lines, a clock sample input line, and a clock hold input line; the sample and hold latch circuit further including row and column input lines, connected to receive signals from the decoder means, for accessing the latch circuit; and a scan-out gate connected to the data line means enabled by said row and column input lines, providing a scan-out of the latch circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
The scan apparatus of claim 2, wherein the latch circuit further includes a scan-in line for scanning in data to the latch circuit under control of said row and column input lines.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
The scan apparatus of claim 2, wherein the latch circuit further includes a reset input.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4055754A Cited
US4225945A Cited
US4130900A Cited
US4087092A Cited
US4120048A Cited
US4447895A Cited
US4414665A Cited
JPS5690270A Cited
US4404519A Cited
US4472792A Cited
US4441075A Cited
US4608690A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-06-21 1991-12-21 1992-06-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-06-21 1995-12-21 1996-06-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-06-21 1999-12-21 2000-06-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag