# US 11,442,108 B1 · Isolation logic test circuit and associated test method

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- Number: US 11,442,108 B1
- Document ID: US11442108B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 17/477,237
- Filed: 2021-09-16
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2021-09-16
- Assignees: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
- Applicants: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
- Inventors: Venkata Narayanan Srinivasan; Gourav Garg; Dhulipalla Phaneendra Kumar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442108B1

## CPC

- G01R 31/31701: {Arrangements for setting the Unit Under Test [UUT] in a test mode}
- G01R 31/318575: {Power distribution; Power saving}
- G01R 31/31713: {Input or output interfaces for test, e.g. test pins, buffers (for scan test G01R31/318572)}
- G01R 31/318555: {Control logic}
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)

## Abstract

A circuit includes: a first power domain including: an isolation cell, a first selection circuit having inputs for receiving a first functional signal and a first test signal and an output for controlling the isolation cell, and a second selection circuit having inputs for receiving a second functional signal and a second test signal and an output coupled to a signal input of the isolation cell; a second power domain including: a first circuit having an input coupled to a signal output of the isolation cell, a first observation element coupled to the signal output of the isolation cell, and a second observation element coupled to an output of the first circuit; where, when in test mode, the first selection circuit controls the isolation cell based on the first test signal, and the second selection circuit provides the second test signal to the signal input of the isolation cell.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electronic circuit comprising:
a first power domain comprising:
a first isolation cell comprising a signal input, a signal output, and a control input, wherein the first isolation cell is configured to be enabled or disabled based on the control input of the first isolation cell,
a first selection circuit having a first input configured to receive a first functional signal, a second input configured to receive a first test signal, and an output coupled to the control input of the first isolation cell, and
a second selection circuit having a first input configured to receive a second functional signal, a second input configured to receive a second test signal, and an output coupled to the signal input of the first isolation cell;
a second power domain comprising:
a first circuit having an input coupled to the signal output of the first isolation cell,
a first observation element coupled to a first intermediate node that is coupled between the signal output of the first isolation cell and the input of the first circuit, and
a second observation element coupled to an output of the first circuit;
wherein the electronic circuit comprises a plurality of functional modes, and a first test mode;
wherein, for each of the plurality of functional modes, the first power domain is configured to be on when the second power domain is on, and the second power domain is configured to be off in at least one functional mode in which the first power domain is configured to be on;
wherein, when the electronic circuit is in the first test mode, the first selection circuit is configured to provide the first test signal to the control input of the first isolation cell, and the second selection circuit is configured to provide the second test signal to the signal input of the first isolation cell; and
wherein, when the electronic circuit is in any of the plurality of functional modes, the first selection circuit is configured to provide the first functional signal to the control input of the first isolation cell, and the second selection circuit is configured to provide the second functional signal to the signal input of the first isolation cell.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the second power domain further comprises an OR gate having a first input coupled to the signal output of the first isolation cell and to the first observation element, a second input configured to receive a third test signal from the first power domain, and an output coupled to the input of the first circuit, wherein, when the electronic circuit is in any of the plurality of functional modes, the third test signal is configured to be low.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The electronic circuit of claim 2, wherein the third test signal is configured to cross from the first power domain to the second power domain without going through an isolation cell.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the second power domain further comprises an AND gate having a first input coupled to the signal output of the first isolation cell and to the first observation element, a second input configured to receive a third test signal, and an output coupled to the input of the first circuit, wherein, when the electronic circuit is in any of the plurality of functional modes, the third test signal is configured to be high.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the first selection circuit comprises a third input configured to receive a third test signal, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a second test mode, and wherein, when the electronic circuit is in the second test mode, the first selection circuit is configured to provide the third test signal to the control input of the first isolation cell.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The electronic circuit of claim 5, wherein the first selection circuit comprises:
a first multiplexer having a first input coupled to the first input of the first selection circuit, and a second input coupled to the second input of the first selection circuit; and
a second multiplexer having a first input coupled to an output of the first multiplexer, a second input coupled to the third input of the first multiplexer, and an output coupled to the output of the first selection circuit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The electronic circuit of claim 5, wherein the first circuit comprises a test controller configured to control the third test signal when the electronic circuit is in the second test mode.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the second selection circuit comprises a multiplexer having a first input coupled to the first input of the second selection circuit, a second input coupled to the second input of the second selection circuit, and an output coupled to the output of the second selection circuit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the first power domain further comprises a third selection circuit having a first input configured to receive the second functional signal, a second input configured to receive a third test signal, and an output configured to control the second test signal, wherein, when the electronic circuit is in any of the plurality of functional modes, the third selection circuit is configured to provide the second functional signal to the second input of the second selection circuit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the first power domain further comprises:
a first test bit configured to control the first selection circuit;
a second test bit configured to control the second selection circuit; and
a third test bit configured to provide the second test signal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The electronic circuit of claim 10, wherein the first, second, and third test bits are programmable via joint test action group (JTAG) interface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The electronic circuit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pins or pads, wherein the first and second observation elements are first and second pins or pads of the plurality of pins or pads, respectively.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The electronic circuit of claim 12, wherein the first power domain comprises a third pin or pad, wherein, when the electronic circuit is in the first test mode, the third pin or pad is configured to control the second test signal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the first isolation cell comprises an AND gate having a first input coupled to the signal input of the first isolation cell, a second input coupled to the control input of the first isolation cell, and an output coupled to the signal output of the first isolation cell.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein the first power domain comprises a power-on-reset (POR) circuit configured to generate the second functional signal.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The electronic circuit of claim 1, further comprising a third power domain comprising a second isolation cell, wherein, for each of the functional modes, the first power domain is configured to be on when the third power domain is on, the third power domain is configured to be off in at least one functional mode in which the first power domain is configured to be on, the third power domain is configured to be on when the second power domain is on, and the second power domain is configured to be off in at least one functional mode in which the third power domain is configured to be on;
wherein the second power domain comprises an AND gate having a first input coupled to the signal output of the first isolation cell, a second input coupled to a signal output of the second isolation cell, and an output coupled to an input of the first circuit; and
wherein the first power domain comprises:
a third isolation cell having a signal input coupled to the output of the second selection circuit, and a signal output coupled to a signal input of the second isolation cell,
a third selection circuit having a first input configured to receive a third functional signal, a second input configured to receive a third test signal, and an output coupled to a control input of the third isolation cell, and
a fourth selection circuit having a first input configured to receive a fourth functional signal, a second input configured to receive a fourth test signal, and an output coupled to a control input of the second isolation cell.

### Claim 17

An integrated circuit comprising:
a first power domain comprising:
a power-on-reset (POR) circuit configured to generate a POR signal, wherein the POR circuit is configured to assert the POR signal when a first supply voltage of the first power domain reaches a predetermined threshold;
a first isolation cell comprising a signal input, a signal output, and a control input, wherein the first isolation cell is configured to be enabled or disabled based on the control input of the first isolation cell,
a first selection circuit having a first input configured to receive a first functional signal, a second input configured to receive a first test signal, and an output coupled to the control input of the first isolation cell, and
a second selection circuit having a first input configured to receive the POR signal, a second input configured to receive a second test signal, and an output coupled to the signal input of the first isolation cell;
a second power domain comprising:
a test controller having an input coupled to the signal output of the first isolation cell,
a first pin or pad coupled to a first intermediate node that is coupled between the signal output of the first isolation cell and the input of the test controller, and
a second pin or pad coupled to an output of the test controller;
wherein the integrated circuit comprises a plurality of functional modes, and a first test mode;
wherein, for each of the plurality of functional modes, the first power domain is configured to be on when the second power domain is on, and the second power domain is configured to be off in at least one functional mode in which the first power domain is configured to be on;
wherein, when the integrated circuit is in the first test mode, the first selection circuit is configured to provide the first test signal to the control input of the first isolation cell, and the second selection circuit is configured to provide the second test signal to the signal input of the first isolation cell; and
wherein, when the integrated circuit is in any of the plurality of functional modes, the first selection circuit is configured to provide the first functional signal to the control input of the first isolation cell, and the second selection circuit is configured to provide the POR signal to the signal input of the first isolation cell.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The integrated circuit of claim 17, wherein the second power domain further comprises an OR gate having a first input coupled to the signal output of the first isolation cell and to the first pin or pad, a second input configured to receive a third test signal, and an output coupled to the input of the test controller, wherein, when the integrated circuit is in any of the plurality of functional modes, the third test signal is configured to be low.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The integrated circuit of claim 18, wherein the first power domain further comprises:
a first test bit configured to control the first selection circuit;
a second test bit configured to control the second selection circuit;
a third test bit configured to provide the second test signal; and
a fourth test bit configured to provide the third test signal to the second input of the OR gate without going through an isolation cell.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The integrated circuit of claim 17, wherein the first power domain is an always-on power domain.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The integrated circuit of claim 17, wherein the POR circuit is the only POR circuit of the integrated circuit.

### Claim 22

A method for testing an integrated circuit having a plurality of power domains, a plurality of functional modes, and a first test mode, the method comprising, during the first test mode:
causing a first selection circuit having a first input for receiving a first functional signal, a second input for receiving a first test signal, and an output coupled to a control input of a first isolation cell, to deliver the first test signal to the control input of the first isolation cell;
causing a second selection circuit having a first input for receiving a second functional signal, a second input for receiving a second test signal, and an output coupled to a signal input of the first isolation cell, to deliver the second test signal to the signal input of the first isolation cell, wherein a first power domain of the plurality of power domains comprises the first and second selection circuits and the first isolation cell;
setting the second test signal to logic 1;
asserting the first test signal to enable the first isolation cell;
after setting the second test signal to logic 1 and asserting the first test signal, measuring a first voltage at a first pin or pad coupled to a signal output of the first isolation cell, wherein a second power domain of the plurality of power domains comprises the first pin or pad, wherein, for each of the plurality of functional modes, the first power domain is on when the second power domain is on, and the second power domain is off in at least one functional mode in which the first power domain is on;
setting the second test signal to logic 0;
deasserting the first test signal to disable the first isolation cell;
after setting the second test signal to logic 0 and deasserting the first test signal, measuring a second voltage at the first pin or pad;
setting a first test bit of the first power domain to logic 0, wherein the first test bit is coupled to a first input of an OR gate, the OR gate having a second input coupled to the signal output of the first isolation cell and to the first pin or pad, and an output coupled to an input of a test controller, wherein the second power domain comprises the OR gate and the test controller;
after setting the second test signal to logic 0, deasserting the first test signal, and setting the first test bit to logic 0, measure a third voltage at a second pin or pad coupled to an output of the test controller, wherein the second power domain comprises the second pin or pad;
when the first voltage corresponds to logic 0, the second voltage correspond to logic 0, and the third voltage is indicative of the test controller being in reset mode, generating a first indication that a first path coupled to the signal input of the first isolation cell does not have stuck-at 1 faults, and that a second path coupled to the signal output of the first isolation cell does not have stuck-at 1 faults;
when the first voltage corresponds to logic 0 and the second voltage correspond to logic 1, generating a second indication that the first path has a stuck-at 1 fault; and
when the first voltage corresponds to logic 0, the second voltage correspond to logic 0, and the third voltage is indicative of the test controller not being in reset mode, generating a third indication that the second path has a stuck-at 1 fault.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, further comprising, during the first test mode:
when the first voltage corresponds to logic 1;
asserting a third test signal to enable a second isolation cell;
after asserting the third test signal and setting the second test signal to logic 1, measuring a fourth voltage at the first pin or pad; and
when the fourth voltage corresponds to logic 0, generating an indication that the first isolation cell is connected incorrectly.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein generating the first, second, or third indications comprises generating a log file with an automated test equipment (ATE).