US5134586A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Semiconductor memory with chip enable control from output enable during test mode
Assignee: STMicroelectronics lnc USA
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Filing: 1990-08-17
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Granted: 1992-07-28
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Expires: 2010-08-17
Abstract
Abstract An integrated circuit having a normal operating mode and a special operating mode, such as a special test mode, is disclosed. The special test mode is enabled by a series of signals, such as overvoltage excursions at a terminal, rather than by a single such excursion, so that it is less likely that the special test mode is entered inadvertently, such as due to noise or power-down and power-up of the device. The circuit for enabling the test mode includes a series of D-type flip-flops, each of which are clocked upon detection of the overvoltage condition together with a particular logic level applied at another terminal; multiple series of flip-flops may be provided for multiple special test modes. Additional features include the provision of a power-on reset circuit which locks out the entry into the test mode during power-up of the device. Acknowledgment of the entry into test mode is provided by the presentation of a low impedance at output terminals while the device is not enabled; chip enable of the device causes the device to exit the test mode. Once in test mode, the output enable terminal of the device can provide a chip enable function.
Inventors
- 👤 Randy C. Steele
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:42
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C29/00; G11C29/04; G11C29/08; G11C29/12; G11C29/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
An integrated circuit having a normal operating mode and a special operating mode, comprising: functional circuitry; a data output terminal; an output buffer, coupled to said functional circuitry and to said data output terminal, for presenting data at said data output terminal responsive to the operation of said functional circuitry; an output enable terminal, for receiving an output enable signal having a first state indicating that said output buffer is to be enabled, and having a second state indicating that said output buffer is to be disabled; output enable control circuitry coupled to said output enable terminal and to said output buffer, for disabling said output buffer responsive to an output enable signal at said second state received at said output enable terminal; a first terminal for receiving a mode initiate signal; a first chip enable terminal, for receiving a signal indicating with a first state that the circuit is to be enabled, and with a second state that the circuit is not to be enabled; special mode enable circuitry having an input coupled to said first terminal, having an input coupled to said first chip enable terminal, and having an output for presenting a special mode enable signal responsive to said mode initiate signal received at said first terminal and for presenting a special mode disable signal at its output responsive to said first chip enable terminal receiving a signal at said first state; and chip enable circuitry coupled to said output enable terminal and to the output of said special mode enable circuitry, for enabling said functional circuitry responsive to the combination of said special mode enable signal and a selected state at said output enable terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
An integrated circuit having a normal operating mode and a special operating mode, comprising: functional circuitry; a data output terminal; an output buffer, coupled to said functional circuitry and to said data output terminal, for presenting data at said data output terminal responsive to the operation of said functional circuitry; an output enable terminal, for receiving an output enable signal having a first state indicating that said output buffer is to be enabled, and having a second state indicating that said output buffer is to be disabled; output enable control circuitry coupled to said output enable terminal and to said output buffer, for disabling said output buffer responsive to an output enable signal at said second state received at said output enable terminal; a first terminal for receiving a mode initiate signal; a first chip enable terminal, for receiving a signal indicating with a first state that the circuit is to be enabled, and with a second state that the circuit is not to be enabled; special mode enable circuitry having an input coupled to said first terminal, having an input coupled to said first chip enable terminal, and having an output for presenting a special mode enable signal responsive to said mode initiate signal received at said first terminal and for presenting a special mode disable signal at its output responsive to said first chip enable terminal receiving a signal at said first state; and chip enable circuitry coupled to said output enable terminal and to the output of said special mode enable circuitry, for enabling said functional circuitry responsive to the combination of said special mode enable signal and a selected state at said output enable terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The circuit of claim 1, wherein said special mode enable circuitry presents, at its output, a signal at a first state indicating said special mode enable signal and a signal at a second state indicating said special mode disable signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The circuit of claim 1, wherein said functional circuitry is also enabled responsive to said first chip enable terminal receiving a signal at said first state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
The circuit of claim 3, further comprising: a second chip enable terminal; and chip enable logic, having inputs coupled to said first and second chip enable terminals, and having an output coupled to said special mode enable circuitry and to said functional circuitry, said chip enable logic presenting, responsive to a logical combination of signals received at said first and second chip enable terminals, at its output a signal indicating with a first state that the circuit is to be enabled, and with a second state that the circuit is not to be enabled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The circuit of claim 1, further comprising: a data input terminal coupled to said functional circuitry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The circuit of claim 5, wherein the same terminal functions as said data input terminal and said data output terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
The circuit of claim 6, further comprising: a write enable terminal, for receiving a write enable signal indicating, at a first state, that a write operation is desired and indicating, at a second state, that a read operation is desired; wherein said output enable control circuitry is also coupled to said write enable terminal, for disabling said output buffer responsive to an write enable signal at said first state received at said write enable terminal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The circuit of claim 1, wherein, in said special operating mode, said chip enable circuitry enables said functional circuitry responsive to said output enable signal at said first state.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for controlling the operation of a circuit having a normal operating mode and a special operating mode, comprising: in said normal operating mode, disabling an output buffer responsive to an output disable signal received at an output enable terminal; receiving a signal at a chip enable terminal, said signal indicating with a first state that said circuit is to be enabled, and indicating with a second state that said circuit is to be disabled; in said normal operating mode, disabling said functional circuitry responsive to said chip enable terminal receiving a signal at said chip enable terminal at said second state; receiving a mode initiate signal at a first terminal; enabling said special operating mode responsive to receipt of said mode initiate signal; after said enabling step, enabling and disabling said functional circuitry responsive to signals received at said output enable terminal; and after said step of enabling said special operating mode, disabling said special operating mode responsive to said chip enable terminal receiving a signal at said first state.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for controlling the operation of a circuit having a normal operating mode and a special operating mode, comprising: in said normal operating mode, disabling an output buffer responsive to an output disable signal received at an output enable terminal; receiving a signal at a chip enable terminal, said signal indicating with a first state that said circuit is to be enabled, and indicating with a second state that said circuit is to be disabled; in said normal operating mode, disabling said functional circuitry responsive to said chip enable terminal receiving a signal at said chip enable terminal at said second state; receiving a mode initiate signal at a first terminal; enabling said special operating mode responsive to receipt of said mode initiate signal; after said enabling step, enabling and disabling said functional circuitry responsive to signals received at said output enable terminal; and after said step of enabling said special operating mode, disabling said special operating mode responsive to said chip enable terminal receiving a signal at said first state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said step of enabling and disabling said functional circuitry comprises disabling said functional circuitry responsive to receiving said output disable signal at said output enable terminal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
212 words
An integrated circuit having a normal operating mode and a special operating mode, comprising: functional circuitry; an output terminal; means, coupled to said functional circuitry and to said output terminal, for presenting data at said output terminal from said functional circuitry; an output enable terminal for receiving output enable signals indicating enabling and disabling of said output; output control means, coupled to said output enable terminal and to said presenting means, for placing said output terminal into a high impedance state responsive to receipt of an output enable signal indicating disabling of said output; a first terminal for receiving a mode initiate signal; special mode enabling means, coupled to said first terminal, for enabling a special operating mode responsive to receipt of a mode initiate signal at said first terminal; and control means, coupled to said functional circuitry, to said output enable terminal, and to said special mode enabling means, for disabling said functional circuitry, in said special operating mode, responsive to receipt of said output enable signal indicating disabling of said circuit; wherein said functional circuitry is coupled to said first terminal and is for performing a function in normal operating mode responsive to signals received at said first terminal having a magnitude in a range between first and second levels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
212 words
An integrated circuit having a normal operating mode and a special operating mode, comprising: functional circuitry; an output terminal; means, coupled to said functional circuitry and to said output terminal, for presenting data at said output terminal from said functional circuitry; an output enable terminal for receiving output enable signals indicating enabling and disabling of said output; output control means, coupled to said output enable terminal and to said presenting means, for placing said output terminal into a high impedance state responsive to receipt of an output enable signal indicating disabling of said output; a first terminal for receiving a mode initiate signal; special mode enabling means, coupled to said first terminal, for enabling a special operating mode responsive to receipt of a mode initiate signal at said first terminal; and control means, coupled to said functional circuitry, to said output enable terminal, and to said special mode enabling means, for disabling said functional circuitry, in said special operating mode, responsive to receipt of said output enable signal indicating disabling of said circuit; wherein said functional circuitry is coupled to said first terminal and is for performing a function in normal operating mode responsive to signals received at said first terminal having a magnitude in a range between first and second levels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The circuit of claim 11, wherein said control means also is for enabling said functional circuitry in said special operating mode responsive to receipt of said output enable signal indicating enabling of said circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
The circuit of claim 11, further comprising: a chip enable terminal for receiving chip enable signals indicating enabling and disabling of said circuit; chip enable means, coupled to said functional circuitry and to said chip enable terminal, for disabling said functional circuitry in said normal operating mode responsive to receipt of a chip enable signal indicating disabling of said circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The circuit of claim 13, wherein said chip enable means is also coupled to said special mode enabling means, and is for disabling said special operating mode responsive to receipt of a chip enable signal indicating enabling of said circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The circuit of claim 11, wherein said output control means is for placing said output terminal into a high impedance state responsive to receipt of an output enable signal indicating disabling of said output in both said normal operating mode and said special operating mode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The circuit of claim 11, wherein said special operating mode is a special test mode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The circuit of claim 11, wherein said mode initiate signal is a signal at a magnitude outside of said range between said first and second levels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-07-28 | 1996-01-27 | 1996-07-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-28 | 2000-01-27 | 2000-07-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-28 | 2004-01-27 | 2004-07-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |