US5260946A
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Self-testing and self-configuration in an integrated circuit
Assignee: OL Security LLC
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Filing: 1991-06-03
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Granted: 1993-11-09
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Expires: 2011-06-03
Abstract
Abstract Integration at the chip level is supported by an architecture for self-testing and self-configuration of an integrated circuit. Self-testing requires the generation of test signals based on primary root polynomials, application of the test signals to functionally redundant modules, and evaluation of the response of the modules to the test signals. The response produced by a module is compared against the response predicted from error-free operation of the module. Modules whose responses correspond to the expected responses are interconnected for circuit operation. All of the architecture for self-testing and self-configuration is integrated with the tested and configured modules.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick O. Nunally
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:20
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C29/00; G11C29/006; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/26; G06F11/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
In a monolithic integrated circuit device which includes a functionality cluster and a mechanism for testing the operation of the functionality cluster by means of a test signal, a test signal circuit, which comprises: a test signal generator, including: a plurality (n) of storage devices, the storage devices being connected in a N×1 array for serial shifting of binary signals in a shifting direction from an nth storage device to a first storage device, each storage device having a position in the N×1 array which corresponds to a position of a respective variable in a polynomial of the nth degree; a first set of modulo-two means, each modulo-two means corresponding to a respective root variable of a first primary root polynomial (PRP1), the modulo-two means corresponding to the ith root variable of PRP1 being connected to the storage devices for conditioning the state of a storage device which corresponds to the position, in the shifting direction, of the ith root variable in PRP1, the modulo-two means conditioning the state of the storage device in response to a state of the first storage device and a state of the storage device corresponding to position i+1 in PRP1; a second set of modulo-two means, each corresponding to a respective root variable of a second primary root polynomial (PRP2), the modulo-two means corresponding to the jth root variable of PRP2 being connected to the storage devices for conditioning the state of a storage device which corresponds to the position, in a direction opposite the shifting direction, of the jth root variable of PRP2, the modulo-two means conditioning the state of the storage device in response to a modification signal and the state of the first storage device; and compactor means for generating the modification signal as a binary string representing PRP2.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
In a monolithic integrated circuit device which includes a functionality cluster and a mechanism for testing the operation of the functionality cluster by means of a test signal, a test signal circuit, which comprises: a test signal generator, including: a plurality (n) of storage devices, the storage devices being connected in a N×1 array for serial shifting of binary signals in a shifting direction from an nth storage device to a first storage device, each storage device having a position in the N×1 array which corresponds to a position of a respective variable in a polynomial of the nth degree; a first set of modulo-two means, each modulo-two means corresponding to a respective root variable of a first primary root polynomial (PRP1), the modulo-two means corresponding to the ith root variable of PRP1 being connected to the storage devices for conditioning the state of a storage device which corresponds to the position, in the shifting direction, of the ith root variable in PRP1, the modulo-two means conditioning the state of the storage device in response to a state of the first storage device and a state of the storage device corresponding to position i+1 in PRP1; a second set of modulo-two means, each corresponding to a respective root variable of a second primary root polynomial (PRP2), the modulo-two means corresponding to the jth root variable of PRP2 being connected to the storage devices for conditioning the state of a storage device which corresponds to the position, in a direction opposite the shifting direction, of the jth root variable of PRP2, the modulo-two means conditioning the state of the storage device in response to a modification signal and the state of the first storage device; and compactor means for generating the modification signal as a binary string representing PRP2.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
155 words
The test signal circuit of claim 1, wherein the compactor means includes: a plurality (n) of storage devices, the storage devices being connected in a N×1 array for serial shifting of binary signals in a shifting direction from an nth storage device to a first storage device, each storage device having a position in the N×1 array which corresponds to a position of a respective variable in a polynomial of the nth degree; and a set of modulo-two means, each modulo-two means corresponding to a respective root variable of PRP2, each modulo-two means connected to the storage devices for conditioning the state of a storage device which corresponds to the position, in the shifting direction, of the ith root variable PRP2, the modulo-two means conditioning the state of the storage device in response to the state of the first storage device and a state of the storage device corresponding to the position i+1 in PRP2.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The test signal circuit of claim 1, wherein the storage devices are each connected to an input of the functionality cluster for parallel shifting of binary signals to the functionality cluster.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
155 words
The test signal generator of claim 3, wherein the compactor means includes: a plurality (n) of storage devices, the storage devices being connected in a N×1 array for serial shifting of binary signals in a shifting direction from an nth storage device to a first storage device, each storage device having a position in the N×1 array which corresponds to a position of a respective variable in a polynomial of the nth degree; and a set of modulo-two means, each modulo-two means corresponding to a respective root variable of PRP2, each modulo-two means connected to the storage devices for conditioning the state of a storage device which corresponds to the position, in the shifting direction, of the ith root variable PRP2, the modulo-two means conditioning the state of the storage device in response to the state of the first storage device and a state of the storage device corresponding to the position i+1 in PRP2.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
181 words
In an integrated circuit device which includes input and output terminals, at least one functionality cluster, means for configuring the functionality cluster by selectively connecting portions of the functionality cluster to input and output terminals in response to a configuration signal, and a test mechanism for testing the operation of the functionality cluster and indicating the operation by means of a response signal string, a configuration manager for generating the configuration signal, the configuration manager comprising: counting means for subdividing the response signal string into segments; segment signature means connected to the counting means and responsive to response signal string segments for producing functionality cluster segment signature signals, each segment signature signal being produced in response to a respective response signal string segment and including a binary string which represents the error-free generation of a response signal string segment by a predetermined portion of the functionality cluster; and configuration signal generating means connected to the counting means and to the segment signature means for generating a configuration signal conditioned to select functionality cluster portions which generate error-free test segment signal strings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
181 words
In an integrated circuit device which includes input and output terminals, at least one functionality cluster, means for configuring the functionality cluster by selectively connecting portions of the functionality cluster to input and output terminals in response to a configuration signal, and a test mechanism for testing the operation of the functionality cluster and indicating the operation by means of a response signal string, a configuration manager for generating the configuration signal, the configuration manager comprising: counting means for subdividing the response signal string into segments; segment signature means connected to the counting means and responsive to response signal string segments for producing functionality cluster segment signature signals, each segment signature signal being produced in response to a respective response signal string segment and including a binary string which represents the error-free generation of a response signal string segment by a predetermined portion of the functionality cluster; and configuration signal generating means connected to the counting means and to the segment signature means for generating a configuration signal conditioned to select functionality cluster portions which generate error-free test segment signal strings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
279 words
The configuration manager of claim 5, wherein the test mechanism includes: a test signal generator, including: a plurality (n) of storage devices, the storage devices being connected in a N×1 array for serial shifting of binary signals in a shifting direction from an nth storage device to a first storage device, each storage device having a position in the N×1 array which corresponds to a position of a respective variable in a polynomial of the nth degree; a first set of modulo-two means, each modulo-two means corresponding to a respective root variable of a first nth-order primary root polynomial (PRP1), each modulo-two means connected to the storage devices for conditioning the state of a storage device which corresponds to the position, in the shifting direction, of the ith root variable in PRP1, the modulo-two means conditioning the state of the storage device in response to a state of the first storage device in a state of the storage device corresponding to position i+1 in PRP1; a second set of modulo-two means, each corresponding to a respective root variable of a second nth-order primary root polynomial (PRP2), each modulo-two means connected to the storage devices for conditioning the state of a storage device which corresponds to the position, in a direction opposite the shifting direction, of the ith root variable of PRP2, the modulo-two means conditioning the state of the storage device in response to a modification signal in the state of the first storage device; and compactor means for generating the modification signal as a binary string representing PRP2; and gate means connected to the compactor means for generating the response signal string in response to the modification signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
154 words
The configuration manager of claim 6, wherein the compactor means includes: a plurality (n) of storage devices, the storage devices being connected in a N×1 array for serial shifting of binary signals in a shifting direction from an nth storage device to a first storage device, each storage device having a position in the N×1 array which corresponds to a position of a respective variable in a polynomial of the nth degree; and a set of modulo-two means, each modulo-two means corresponding to a respective root variable of PRP2, each modulo-two means connected to the storage devices for conditioning the state of a storage device which corresponds to the position, in the shifting direction, of the ith root variable PRP2, the modulo-two means conditioning the state of the storage device in response to the state of the first storage device and a state of the storage device corresponding to the position i+1 in PRP2.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The configuration manager of claim 6, wherein the storage devices are each connected to an input of the functionality cluster for parallel shifting of binary signals to the functionality cluster.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
The configuration manager of claim 8, wherein the compactor means includes: a plurality (n) of storage devices, the storage devices being connected in a N×1 array for serial shifting of binary signals in a shifting direction from an nth storage device to a first storage device, each storage device having a position in the N×1 array which corresponds to a position of a respective variable in a polynomial of the nth degree; and a set of modulo-two means, each modulo-two means corresponding to a respective root variable of PRP2, each modulo-two means connected to the storage devices for conditioning the state of a storage device which corresponds to the position, in the shifting direction, of the ith root variable PRP2, the modulo-two means conditioning the state of the storage device in response to the state of the first storage device and a state of the storage device corresponding to the position i+1 in PRP2.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
143 words
In an integrated circuit device which includes a functionality cluster and the mechanism for testing the operation of the functionality cluster by means of a test signal, a self-validating configuration manager for configuring the functionality cluster in response to the test signal, the configuration manager comprising: configuration cluster means connected to the functionality cluster and responsive to the test signal for connecting portion of the functionality cluster for circuit operation; compactor means connected to the configuration cluster means for receiving a response signal produced by the configuration cluster in response to a test signal; a process control monitor connected to the compactor for generating a process test signal in response to the response signal; and a test signal generator connected to the configuration cluster means and to the process control monitor for producing the test signal in response to the process test signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
In an integrated circuit device which includes a functionality cluster and the mechanism for testing the operation of the functionality cluster by means of a test signal, a self-validating configuration manager for configuring the functionality cluster in response to the test signal, the configuration manager comprising: configuration cluster means connected to the functionality cluster and responsive to the test signal for connecting portion of the functionality cluster for circuit operation; compactor means connected to the configuration cluster means for receiving a response signal produced by the configuration cluster in response to a test signal; a process control monitor connected to the compactor for generating a process test signal in response to the response signal; and a test signal generator connected to the configuration cluster means and to the process control monitor for producing the test signal in response to the process test signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
271 words
The configuration manager of claim 10, wherein the signal generator includes: a plurality (n) of storage devices, the storage devices being connected in a N×1 array for serial shifting of binary signals in a shifting direction from an nth storage device to a first storage device, each storage device having a position in the N×1 array which corresponds to a position of a respective variable in a polynomial of the nth degree; a first set of modulo-two means, each modulo-two means corresponding to a respective root variable of a first primary root polynomial (PRP1), the modulo-two means corresponding to the ith root variable of PRP1 being connected to the storage devices for conditioning the state of a storage device which corresponds to the position, in the shifting direction, of the ith root variable in PRP1, the modulo-two means conditioning the state of the storage device in response to a state of the first storage device and a state of the storage device corresponding to position i+1 in PRP1; a second set of modulo-two means, each corresponding to a respective root variable of a second primary root polynomial (PRP2), modulo-two means corresponding to the jth root variable of PRP2 being connected to the storage devices for conditioning the state of a storage device which corresponds to the position, in a direction opposite the shifting direction, of the jth root variable of PRP2, the modulo-two means conditioning the state of the storage device in response to a modification signal and the state of the first storage device; and means in the compactor for generating the modification signal as a binary string representing PRP2.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
154 words
The configuration manager of claim 11, wherein the compactor means includes: a plurality (n) of storage devices, the storage devices being connected in a N×1 array for serial shifting of binary signals in a shifting direction from an nth storage device to a first storage device, each storage device having a position in the N×1 array which corresponds to a position of a respective variable in a polynomial of the nth degree; and a set of modulo-two means, each modulo-two means corresponding to a respective root variable of PRP2, each modulo-two means connected to the storage devices for conditioning the state of a storage device which corresponds to the position, in the shifting direction, of the ith root variable PRP2, the modulo-two means conditioning the state of the storage device in response to the state of the first storage device and a state of the storage device corresponding to the position i+1 in PRP2.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
117 words
The test signal circuit of claim 1, wherein each modulo-two means of the first set of modulo-two means includes a CMOS modulo-two adder, including: a P-channel and N-channel transistor pair connected in series at their drains; a transmission gate with an input and an output and with a pair of control ports, the output being connected in common with the drains of the transistor pair, and the input being to the gates of the transistor pair; and an inverter having an output connected to a first transmission gate control port and to the source of the N-channel transistor and an input connected to a second transmission gate control port and to the source of the P-channel transistor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
121 words
The test signal generator of claim 1, wherein the second set of modulo-two means includes, for the modulo-two means corresponding to the jth root variable: a first modulo-two adder having two inputs and an output, a first input being connected to an output of the storage device at position j-1 of the polynomial and the output being connected to the input of the storage device at position j in the polynomial; and a second modulo-two adder having two inputs and an output, the output being connected to a second input of the first modulo-two adder, a first input being connected to the output of the first storage device, and the second input being connected to receive the binary string representing PRP2.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
113 words
The test signal generator of claim 15, wherein the first and second modulo-two adders are CMOS modulo-two adders, each including: a P-channel and N-channel transistor pair connected in series at their drains; a transmission gate with an input and an output and with a pair of control ports, the output being connected in common with the drains of the transistor pair, and the input being to the gates of the transistor pair; and an inverter having an output connected to a first transmission gate control port and to the source of the N-channel transistor and an input connected to a second transmission gate control port and to the source of the P-channel transistor.
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) | 1996-11-08 | 1997-05-10 | 1997-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-08 | 2001-05-10 | 2001-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-08 | 2005-05-10 | 2005-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |