Data processing system, circuit arrangement and program product including multi-path scan interface and methods thereof
First Claim
1. A circuit arrangement, comprising:
- (a) first and second scan ring segments, each scan ring segment including an input and an output; and
(b) a multiplexer, coupled between the first and second scan ring segments, the multiplexer configured to selectively couple the output of the first scan ring segment to the input of the second scan ring segment, wherein in a first mode, the first and second scan ring segments operate in a common scan path, and in a second mode, the first and second scan ring segments operate in separate scan paths.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data processing system, circuit arrangement, program product, and method thereof utilize a multi-path scan interface that is capable of providing multiple scan paths into a plurality of scan ring segments in an integrated circuit device. The multi-path scan interface utilizes one or more multiplexers coupled between scan in and scan out ports and at least one scan ring segment to provide alternate scan paths depending upon select signals supplied to each multiplexer. With such a configuration, a standardized scan interface may developed for interfacing with a wide variety of scan ring segments, and optionally, for multiple purposes. As a result, the amount of custom circuitry necessary to provide access to scan ring segments is significantly reduced.
149 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A circuit arrangement, comprising:
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(a) first and second scan ring segments, each scan ring segment including an input and an output; and (b) a multiplexer, coupled between the first and second scan ring segments, the multiplexer configured to selectively couple the output of the first scan ring segment to the input of the second scan ring segment, wherein in a first mode, the first and second scan ring segments operate in a common scan path, and in a second mode, the first and second scan ring segments operate in separate scan paths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A circuit arrangement, comprising:
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(a) a scan in port and a scan out port defining a scan path therebetween; (b) a scan ring group disposed within the scan path between the scan in port and the scan out port, the scan ring group including an input and an output and at least a first scan ring segment with an input and an output; (c) a second scan ring segment with an input and an output, the second scan ring segment disposed in the scan path between the scan ring group and one of the scan in and scan out ports; (d) a first multiplexer, including first and second inputs and an output, the first and second inputs of the first multiplexer respectively coupled to the input and output of the scan ring group, and the output of the first multiplexer coupled to one of the input of the second scan ring segment and the scan out port, wherein in a first mode, the first multiplexer couples the first input to the output to bypass the scan ring group from the scan path, and in a second mode, the first multiplexer couples the second input to the output to include the scan ring group in the scan path; (e) a third scan ring segment; and (f) a second multiplexer coupled between the second scan ring segment and the third scan ring segment, the second multiplexer configured to selectively couple the output of the second scan ring segment to the third scan ring segment, wherein in a first mode of the second multiplexer, the third scan ring segment operates in the same scan path as the second scan ring segment, and in a second mode of the second multiplexer, the third scan ring segment operates in a separate scan path from the second scan ring segment. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A data processing system, comprising:
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(a) a processing unit coupled to a storage unit through a bus; and (b) an integrated circuit device disposed in one of the processing and storage units, the integrated circuit device including; (1) first and second scan ring segments, each scan ring segment including an input and an output; and (2) a multiplexer, coupled between the first and second scan ring segments, the multiplexer configured to selectively couple the output of the first scan ring segment to the input of the second scan ring segment, wherein in a first mode, the first and second scan ring segments operate in a common scan path, and in a second mode, the first and second scan ring segments operate in separate scan paths.
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27. A data processing system, comprising:
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(a) a processing unit coupled to a storage unit through a bus; and (b) an integrated circuit device disposed in one of the processing and storage units, the integrated circuit device including; (1) a scan in port and a scan out port defining a scan path therebetween; (2) a scan ring group disposed within the scan path between the scan in port and the scan out port, the scan ring group including an input and an output and at least a first scan ring segment with an input and an output; (3) a second scan ring segment with an input and an output, the second scan ring segment disposed in the scan path between the scan ring group and one of the scan in and scan out ports; (4) a first multiplexer, including first and second inputs and an output, the first and second inputs of the first multiplexer respectively coupled to the input and output of the scan ring group, and the output of the first multiplexer coupled to one of the input of the second scan ring segment and the scan out port, wherein in a first mode, the first multiplexer couples the first input to the output to bypass the scan ring group from the scan path, and in a second mode, the first multiplexer couples the second input to the output to include the scan ring group in the scan path; (5) a third scan ring segment; and (6) a second multiplexer coupled between the second scan ring segment and the third scan ring segment, the second multiplexer configured to selectively couple the output of the second scan ring segment to the third scan ring segment, wherein in a first mode of the second multiplexer, the third scan ring segment operates in the same scan path as the second scan ring segment, and in a second mode of the second multiplexer, the third scan ring segment operates in a separate scan path from the second scan ring segment.
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28. A program product, comprising:
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(a) a hardware definition program that defines a circuit arrangement, the circuit arrangement including; (1) first and second scan ring segments, each scan ring segment including an input and an output; and (2) a multiplexer, coupled between the first and second scan ring segments, the multiplexer configured to selectively couple the output of the first scan ring segment to the input of the second scan ring segment, wherein in a first mode, the first and second scan ring segments operate in a common scan path, and in a second mode, the first and second scan ring segments operate in separate scan paths; and (b) a signal bearing media bearing the hardware definition program. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A program product, comprising:
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(a) a hardware definition program that defines a circuit arrangement, the circuit arrangement including; (1) a scan in port and a scan out port defining a scan path therebetween; (2) a scan ring group disposed within the scan path between the scan in port and the scan out port, the scan ring group including an input and an output and at least a first scan ring segment with an input and an output; (3) a second scan ring segment with an input and an output, the second scan ring segment disposed in the scan path between the scan ring group and one of the scan in and scan out ports; (4) a first multiplexer, including first and second inputs and an output, the first and second inputs of the first multiplexer respectively coupled to the input and output of the scan ring group, and the output of the first multiplexer coupled to one of the input of the second scan ring segment and the scan out port, wherein in a first mode, the first multiplexer couples the first input to the output to bypass the scan ring group from the scan path, and in a second mode, the first multiplexer couples the second input to the output to include the scan ring group in the scan path; (5) a third scan ring segment; and (6) a second multiplexer coupled between the second scan ring segment and the third scan ring segment, the second multiplexer configured to selectively couple the output of the second scan ring segment to the third scan ring segment, wherein in a first mode of the second multiplexer, the third scan ring segment operates in the same scan path as the second scan ring segment, and in a second mode of the second multiplexer, the third scan ring segment operates in a separate scan path from the second scan ring segment; (b) a signal bearing media bearing the hardware definition program. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method of interfacing with first and second scan ring segments, each of which includes an input and an output, and the first scan ring segment configured to receive a first scan in signal, the method comprising:
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(a) operating the first and second scan ring segments in a common scan path by configuring a multiplexer to selectively couple the output of the first scan ring segment to the input of the second scan ring segment; and (b) operating the first and second scan ring segments in separate scan paths by configuring the multiplexer to selectively couple the input of the second scan ring segment to receive a second scan in signal.
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35. A method of interfacing with a plurality of scan ring segments disposed within a first scan path defined between a scan in port and a scan out port, each scan ring segment including an input and an output, a first scan ring segment in the plurality of scan ring segments disposed within a scan ring group including an input and an output, a second scan ring segment in the plurality of scan ring segments disposed in the first scan path between the scan ring group and one of the scan in and scan out ports, the method comprising:
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(a) including the scan ring group in the first scan path by configuring a first multiplexer to couple the output of the scan ring group to one of the input of the second scan ring segment and the scan out port; (b) bypassing the scan ring group from the first scan path by configuring the first multiplexer to couple the input of the scan ring group to the one of the input of the second scan ring segment and the scan out port; (c) including the third scan ring segment in the first scan path by configuring a second multiplexer to selectively couple the output of the second scan ring segment to the input of the second scan ring segment; and (d) operating the third scan ring segment in a second scan path by configuring the second multiplexer to selectively couple the input of the third scan ring segment to receive an alternate scan in signal.
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36. A circuit arrangement, comprising:
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(a) a scan in port and a scan out port defining a scan path therebetween; (b) a scan ring group disposed within the scan path between the scan in port and the scan out port, the scan ring group including an input and an output and at least a first scan ring segment with an input and an output; (c) a second scan ring segment with an input and an output, the second scan ring segment disposed in the scan path between the scan ring group and one of the scan in and scan out ports; (d) a first multiplexer, including first and second inputs and an output, the first and second inputs of the first multiplexer respectively coupled to the input and output of the scan ring group, and the output of the first multiplexer coupled to one of the input of the second scan ring segment and the scan out port, wherein in a first mode, the first multiplexer couples the first input to the output to bypass the scan ring group from the scan path, and in a second mode, the first multiplexer couples the second input to the output to include the scan ring group in the scan path; and (e) a second multiplexer including first and second inputs and an output, the first and second inputs of the second multiplexer respectively coupled to an input and an output of a second scan ring group including at least one scan ring segment, wherein in a first mode, the second multiplexer couples the first input of the second multiplexer to the output of the second multiplexer to bypass the second scan ring group from the scan path, and in a second mode, the second multiplexer couples the second input of the second multiplexer to the output of the second multiplexer to include the second scan ring group in the scan path.
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37. A circuit arrangement, comprising:
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(a) a scan in port and a scan out port defining a scan path therebetween; (b) a scan ring group disposed within the scan path between the scan in port and the scan out port, the scan ring group including an input and an output and at least a first scan ring segment with an input and an output; (c) a second scan ring segment with an input and an output, the second scan ring segment disposed in the scan path between the scan ring group and one of the scan in and scan out ports; (d) a multiplexer, including first and second inputs and an output, the first and second inputs of the multiplexer respectively coupled to the input and output of the scan ring group, and the output of the multiplexer coupled to one of the input of the second scan ring segment and the scan out port, wherein in a first mode, the multiplexer couples the first input to the output to bypass the scan ring group from the scan path, and in a second mode, the multiplexer couples the second input to the output to include the scan ring group in the scan path; (e) a plurality of multiplexers, each configured to selectively bypass one of a plurality of scan ring groups disposed within the scan path; and (f) a scan path register including a plurality of bits, wherein each of the plurality of bits in the scan path register is coupled to a select signal in one of the plurality of multiplexers.
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Specification