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US 6,550,033 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for exercising external memory with a memory built-in test
AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.
InventorJeffrey Dwork
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network interface controller with an external memory is provided with memory built-in self-test (MBIST) logic that exercises the memory subsystem. The memory testing is run at normal operating speed to test normal and worst-case access patterns. By adjusting a memory size register and running the MBIST test with different sizes, the actual size of the memory is determined.
Claims7
A network interface controller coupled to an external memory, the controller comprising:
- an external memory interface that interfaces the external memory to the network interface controller;
- an external memory size register that stores a value representing a size of the external memory;
- an MBIST access register including a start field and a fail-stop field;
- and
- memory built-in self-test (MBIST) logic configured to test an external memory coupled to the external memory interface at normal operating speed of the external memory, wherein
- the configuration of the MBIST logic to test the external memory includes logic to write the external memory size register with different values, and the start field and the fail-stop field with specified values.
3 more elements
A method of testing a memory subsystem of a network interface coupled to an external memory, comprising the steps of:
- a) setting an external memory size register with a memory size value representing a size of the external memory;
- b) writing a start field and a fail stop filed of a MBIST access register with specified values;
- c) performing a memory built-in self-test (MBIST);
- d) re-setting the memory size register with a different memory size value;
- e) rewriting the start field and the fail stop filed of the MBIST access register with the specified values;
- f) re-performing the MBIST;
- and
- g) repeating the steps d) through f) until the external memory size is determined.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.