Communication interface for diagnostic circuits of an integrated circuit
AssigneeArm Limited
InventorsPaul Kimelman, Edmond Ashfield, Thomas Houlihane, Ian Field
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated circuit is provided with diagnostic circuitry, such as serial scan chains or debug bus access circuits, with which communication is established using an interface circuit coupled with a bi-directional serial link to an external diagnostic device. The bi-directional serial link carries both data and control signals.
Claims39
An integrated circuit for processing data, said integrated circuit comprising:
- a functional circuit operable to perform data processing operations:
- a diagnostic circuit operable to perform diagnostic operations upon said functional circuit and
- an interface circuit using a bi-directional serial signal to provide communications between said diagnostic circuit and an external diagnostic device.
A method of communicating with a diagnostic circuit operable to perform diagnostic operations upon a functional circuit within an integrated circuit, said method comprising the steps of:
- communicating with a bi-directional serial signal via an interface circuit.
A diagnostic device for performing diagnostic operations upon an integrated circuit, said diagnostic device comprising:
- an interface circuit operable to provide communication between said diagnostic device and a diagnostic circuit within said integrated circuit;
- wherein
- said interface circuit uses a bi-directional serial signal to provide communications between said diagnostic circuit and said diagnostic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.