Performance screen ring oscillator formed from paired scan chains

US9128151B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Margaret R. Charlebois · Jericho, US
• Christopher D. Hanudel · South Burlington, US
• Robert D. Herzl · South Burlington, US
• David W. Milton · Underhill, US
• Clarence R. Ogilvie · Waterbury, US
• Paul M. Schanely · South Burlington, US
• Tad J. Wilder · South Hero, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 8, 2014
• Grant date: Sep 8, 2015
• Expiry date: May 8, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R31/318536
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A performance screen ring oscillator (PSRO) formed from paired scan chains is disclosed. A circuit structure comprises scan chains each having scan chain elements. A scan chain link is configured to pair at least one scan chain element from a first scan chain with at least one scan chain element of a second scan chain to form a PSRO. A forward path associated with data flow through the at least one scan chain element of the first scan chain becomes a backward path of the at least one scan chain element of the second scan chain, and a forward path associated with data flow through the at least one scan chain element of the second scan chain becomes a backward path of the at least one scan chain element of the first scan chain.