Universal apparatus for detecting faults in microprocessor systems
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting a fault in a system including a microprocessor, said microprocessor comprising a plurality of pins individually connected to the system through a connection device, said detecting apparatus comprising:
- a connector provided with pins so positioned that they can be individually connected to the system through said connection device, in the place of the pins of the microprocessor after the latter has been withdrawn from the system;
an interface defining for each pin of said connector a line connected to this pin and having a programmable direction; and
control means connected to the interface for (a) programming the direction of the lines defined by said interface in order to simulate by means of these lines interconnections which are normally established between the system and its microprocessor, and (b) carrying out tests on the microprocessor system through the interconnections simulated by the interface for detecting the fault in said system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A universal apparatus for the detection of faults in microprocessor systems. Microprocessors are commonly commercialized under the form of integrated circuits having a plurality of pins. The apparatus thus comprises a connector provided with pins so positioned that they can be inserted in the connection device of the microprocessor of a faulty system, in the place of the pins of this microprocessor after the same has been withdrawn. An interface defines for each pin of the connector a line having a programmable direction. A programmed controller associated with a memory which stores a copy of the software of the faulty system is connected to the interface for (a) programming the direction of the lines in order to simulate the interconnections which are normally established between the system and its microprocessor, and (b) carrying out tests on this system through the simulated interconnections for detecting the fault. The controller can of course be programmed to detect faults in a plurality of different microprocessor systems. The memory associated therewith then stores a copy of the software of all these systems.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting a fault in a system including a microprocessor, said microprocessor comprising a plurality of pins individually connected to the system through a connection device, said detecting apparatus comprising:
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a connector provided with pins so positioned that they can be individually connected to the system through said connection device, in the place of the pins of the microprocessor after the latter has been withdrawn from the system; an interface defining for each pin of said connector a line connected to this pin and having a programmable direction; and control means connected to the interface for (a) programming the direction of the lines defined by said interface in order to simulate by means of these lines interconnections which are normally established between the system and its microprocessor, and (b) carrying out tests on the microprocessor system through the interconnections simulated by the interface for detecting the fault in said system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification