Method for testing adapter card ASIC using reconfigurable logic
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsGerard M. Salem, Robert J. Lynch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adapter card in a computer system includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) coupled to the ASIC. Random data is provided to the ASIC logic function(s) by control of the FPGA, which is configured by a programmable logic device on the card and coupled thereto. The logic function(s) of the ASIC is then exercised with the random data, and the output is compared with expected output by the system to determine if there are any errors. The determination is made based on a signature produced by a multiple input shift register (MISR) within the ASIC, based on the output data from the logic function(s). The FPGA can then be reconfigured for normal adapter card functions.
Claims12
A method for testing an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) on an adapter card in a computer system, wherein the ASIC has at least one logic function, and wherein the adapter card comprises reconfigurable logic coupled to the ASIC, the method comprising steps of:
- causing data to be provided to the ASIC via the reconfigurable logic;
- operating on the data with the at least one logic function to produce output data;
- and
- determining whether there are any errors in the output data, wherein the reconfigurable logic is reconfigurable to perform one or more post-testing adapter card functions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.