US4897842A — Integrated circuit signature analyzer for testing…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 85 words

A system for testing digital electronic circuits comprising: generator means integrated with circuits to be tested for generating words that are unique to identical streams of binary signals; connecting means that connect the generator means to receive binary signals from a plurality of nodes in the digital circuit to be tested such that the generator means is simultaneously provided with bit streams from more that two nodes of the plurality of nodes; and comparator and storage means for receiving, storing and comparing consecutively-generated signature words.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 85 words

A system for testing digital electronic circuits comprising: generator means integrated with circuits to be tested for generating words that are unique to identical streams of binary signals; connecting means that connect the generator means to receive binary signals from a plurality of nodes in the digital circuit to be tested such that the generator means is simultaneously provided with bit streams from more that two nodes of the plurality of nodes; and comparator and storage means for receiving, storing and comparing consecutively-generated signature words.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 104 words

A system for testing the stability of streams of binary signals at multiple nodes in electronic digital circuits comprising: generator means connected for receiving binary bit streams simultaneously from at least two nodes and operative for producing signature words unique to identical streams of binary signals; selector means that connect the generator means to receive streams of binary signals from at least two nodes in the digital circuit to be tested; comparator means that receive and compare consecutive signature words generated by the generator means; and means responsive to the comparator means for indicating the presence and absence of identity between consecutively-generated signature words.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 104 words

A system for testing the stability of streams of binary signals at multiple nodes in electronic digital circuits comprising: generator means connected for receiving binary bit streams simultaneously from at least two nodes and operative for producing signature words unique to identical streams of binary signals; selector means that connect the generator means to receive streams of binary signals from at least two nodes in the digital circuit to be tested; comparator means that receive and compare consecutive signature words generated by the generator means; and means responsive to the comparator means for indicating the presence and absence of identity between consecutively-generated signature words.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

A system according to claim 2 further including counter means responsible to the comparator means to count the number of consecutive identical signature words generated by the generator means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

A system according to claim 2 wherein the connecting means comprises a multiplexer means that receives the bit streams from the nodes and directs the streams sequentially to the generator means.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 85 words

A system for detecting the stability of clock intervals in streams of clocking signals in digital electronic circuits comprising: generator means connected to the nodes of a circuit under test to generate signature words unique to identical streams of edges of clock signals; comparator means connected to the generator means for comparing consecutive signature words generated by the generator means; and means connected to the comparator means for indicating lack of identity between consecutively-generated signature words and, thereby for indicating whether clocking intervals are stable.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 85 words

A system for detecting the stability of clock intervals in streams of clocking signals in digital electronic circuits comprising: generator means connected to the nodes of a circuit under test to generate signature words unique to identical streams of edges of clock signals; comparator means connected to the generator means for comparing consecutive signature words generated by the generator means; and means connected to the comparator means for indicating lack of identity between consecutively-generated signature words and, thereby for indicating whether clocking intervals are stable.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

A system according to claim 5 further including memory means that stores signature words for comparison with the signature words generated by the signature generator means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 79 words

A process for testing digital electronic circuitry with an integral signature analyzer comprising the steps of: from a plurality of nodes of the circuit to be tested, directing simultaneous streams of binary data to a signature generator; generating signature words that are unique to identical streams of binary data; comparing generated signature words with signature words that are stored in a memory device; comparing consecutively-generated signature words; and indicating the presence and absence of identity between compared signature words.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 79 words

A process for testing digital electronic circuitry with an integral signature analyzer comprising the steps of: from a plurality of nodes of the circuit to be tested, directing simultaneous streams of binary data to a signature generator; generating signature words that are unique to identical streams of binary data; comparing generated signature words with signature words that are stored in a memory device; comparing consecutively-generated signature words; and indicating the presence and absence of identity between compared signature words.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

A process according to claim 7 including the step of counting the number of consecutive signature words that are identical.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

A process according to claim 17 wherein, after an indication is obtained that two consecutive signature words are different, streams of binary data are directed to the signature analyzer serially and sequentially from nodes to be tested.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 40 words

A process according to claim 22 including the steps of obtaining signature words from nodes of a correctly operating circuit of the same kind as the one under test, and storing the obtained signature words in an external memory device.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 54 words

A process for testing the stability of clocking intervals in digital electronic circuits comprising the steps of: directing streams of clocking pulses to a signature analyzer; generating signature words that are unique to identical streams of clocking pulses; comparing consecutively-generated signature words; and indicating the presence and absence of identity between consecutive signature words.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 54 words

A process for testing the stability of clocking intervals in digital electronic circuits comprising the steps of: directing streams of clocking pulses to a signature analyzer; generating signature words that are unique to identical streams of clocking pulses; comparing consecutively-generated signature words; and indicating the presence and absence of identity between consecutive signature words.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

A process according to claim 11 further including the steps of comparing generated signature words with signature words that are generated from correctly operating circuits of the same kind as the one under test.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 94 words

A system for testing digital electronic circuits comprising: generator means integrated with circuits to be tested and selectively connectable for generating signature words in response to edges of clocking signals, which words are unique to identical streams of binary signals; connecting means that connect the generator means to receive binary signals from a plurality of nodes in the digital circuit to be tested; and comparator means connected to receive and compare signature words generated by the generator means with stored signature words to indicate the stability of clocking intervals for the circuits being tested.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 94 words

A system for testing digital electronic circuits comprising: generator means integrated with circuits to be tested and selectively connectable for generating signature words in response to edges of clocking signals, which words are unique to identical streams of binary signals; connecting means that connect the generator means to receive binary signals from a plurality of nodes in the digital circuit to be tested; and comparator means connected to receive and compare signature words generated by the generator means with stored signature words to indicate the stability of clocking intervals for the circuits being tested.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-01-29	1993-07-31	1994-01-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-01-29	1997-07-31	1998-01-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-01-29	2001-07-31	2002-01-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Integrated circuit signature analyzer for testing digital circuitry

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