Patent · US Expired

Data processor test architecture

US5157781A · kind A · utility

74Cited by
12References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 2, 1990
Grant dateOct 20, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 2, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F11/2221
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A test architecture in a data processing system having a plurality of circuit portions, coupled via a communication bus. In the system, a dedicated test register is placed in predetermined circuit portions which each can then operate in a normal mode and a test mode. A central processing unit (CPU) may initiate a test operation in any of the circuit portions in response to software executing by writing an operand to a centralized test module. Operands are scanned into and out of a circuit portion being tested while the central processing unit is capable of performing non-test processing activites. The CPU may also test itself using a dedicated test register which can only cause the CPU to enter a test mode after the register is written to.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.