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US5949797A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Microcontroller test circuit

Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1995-12-15
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Granted: 1999-09-07
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Expires: 2015-12-15
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Abstract

Abstract A microcontroller test circuit having a plurality of pins includes first circuit for determining whether the microcontroller is in a normal mode or a test mode by sensing the potential of an input test signal; and second circuit for selectively opening a first path for making a first pin of the plurality of pins a signal output pin when the input signal is at a first potential and for opening a second path for making the first pin a test signal input pin when the input signal is at a second potential. In this way, the test circuit uses an existing pin that would not otherwise be used during testing instead of requiring a separate test pin.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kwang-Jae Jung

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 15:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/317; G01R31/31701; G01R31/31712; G01R31/31713

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 97 words
A test circuit for a microcontroller having a plurality of pins, the test circuit comprising: first means for determining whether the microcontroller is in a normal mode or a test mode by sensing the potential of an input test signal; and second means for selectively opening a first path for making a first pin of the plurality of pins a signal output pin when the input signal is at a first potential and for opening a second path for making the first pin a test signal input pin when the input signal is at a second potential.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 97 words
A test circuit for a microcontroller having a plurality of pins, the test circuit comprising: first means for determining whether the microcontroller is in a normal mode or a test mode by sensing the potential of an input test signal; and second means for selectively opening a first path for making a first pin of the plurality of pins a signal output pin when the input signal is at a first potential and for opening a second path for making the first pin a test signal input pin when the input signal is at a second potential.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
The test circuit of claim 1, wherein the first means comprises a plurality of voltage drop components serially connected to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
The test circuit of claim 1, further comprising gate means connected to the second path, for generating a plurality of test signals in response to the input test signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 55 words
The test circuit of claim 3, wherein the second means comprises a first transmission gate placed on the first path and connected between the first pin and a second pin of the plurality of pins, and a second transmission gate placed on the second path and connected between the first pin and the gate means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4837505A Cited
US4833395A Cited
US4970727A Cited
US5410247A Cited
US5266894A Cited
US5402063A Cited
US5384741A Cited
US5420869A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-09-06 2003-03-08 2003-09-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-09-06 2007-03-08 2007-09-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-09-06 2011-03-08 2011-09-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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