Patent · US Expired

Output reporting techniques for hard intellectual property blocks

US7242217B2 · kind B2 · utility

12Cited by
15References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 1, 2004
Grant dateJul 10, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 23, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K19/17792
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Techniques for reducing the frequency of an output signal from a hard intellectual property (HIP) block on an integrated circuit are provided. By reducing the frequency of the output signal, circuit blocks in the integrated circuit that operate at a lower frequency than the HIP block are able to capture the output signal. A plurality of serially coupled flip-flops store values of an HIP output signal during each period of the output signal. Logic circuitry then generates a lower frequency HIP output signal in response to the values stored in the flip-flops. Also, a flip-flop can generate a heartbeat signal that is used to determine whether a signal within an HIP block is operating properly.

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