Automatic assignment of device debug communication pins
AssigneeMicrochip Technology Incorporated
InventorsStephen Bowling, Manivannan Balu, Timothy Phoenix, Sankar Rangarajan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus includes a debugger circuit, debug pins, and a test controller circuit. The test controller circuit is configured to, in a programming mode, determine a subset of the debug pins used in programming the apparatus. The test controller circuit is further configured to save a designation of the subset of the debug pins. The test controller circuit is further configured to, in a test mode subsequent to the programming mode, use the designation to route the subset of the debug pins used in programming the apparatus to the debugger circuit for debug input and output with the server.
Claims15
An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of debug pins to communicatively couple the apparatus with a server;
- a debugger circuit;
- and
- a test controller circuit to:
- in a programming mode, determine a subset of the plurality of debug pins used to program the apparatus with an operational functionality;
- save a designation of the subset of the plurality of debug pins used to program the apparatus with the operational functionality;
- in a test mode subsequent to the programming mode, use the designation to route the subset of the plurality of debug pins used to program the apparatus with the operational functionality to the debugger circuit for debug input and output with the server while debugging the operational functionality;
- and
- save the designation of the subset of the plurality of debug pins used to program the apparatus upon a determination that the server has sent a signal to enter the test mode.
A microcontroller, comprising:
- a plurality of debug pins to communicatively couple the apparatus with a server;
- a debugger circuit;
- and
- a test controller circuit to:
- in a programming mode, determine a subset of the plurality of debug pins used to program the apparatus with an operational functionality;
- save a designation of the subset of the plurality of debug pins used to program the apparatus with the operational functionality;
- in a test mode subsequent to the programming mode, use the designation to route the subset of the plurality of debug pins used to program the apparatus with the operational functionality to the debugger circuit for debug input and output with the server while debugging the functionality;
- and
- save the designation of the subset of the plurality of debug pins used to program the apparatus upon a determination that the server has sent a signal to enter the test mode.
A method, comprising:
- in a programming mode:
- determining a subset of a plurality of debug pins of an apparatus communicatively coupled with a server, the subset of the plurality of debug pins used in programming the apparatus with an operational functionality;
- and
- saving a designation of the subset of the plurality of debug pins used to program the apparatus with the operational functionality;
- saving the designation of the subset of the plurality of debug pins used to program the apparatus upon a determination that the server has sent a signal to enter a test mode;
- and
- in the test mode subsequent to the programming mode, use the designation to route the subset of the plurality of debug pins used in programming the apparatus with the operational functionality to the debugger circuit for debug input and output with the server while debugging the operational functionality.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.