IP Library Granted Patent US 12663998
Granted Patent B2
US 12663998 · App. 18/853,966 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Reset using a shared reset signal and a retention mechanism

Inventors: Prathamesh Ramesh Save (San Jose, CA); Vinu Vijay Kumar (Belmont, CA)
Assignee: Google LLC
G06F9/4401
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12663998
App. No.
18/853,966
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, for reset using a shared reset signal and a retention mechanism. In some implementations, an integrated circuit includes one or more modules configured to be reset in response to a reset signal and an access control module configured to be reset in response to the reset signal. The integrated circuit includes one or more second memory elements that is configured to retain stored data during reset of the access control module. The integrated circuit includes reset control logic configured to cause the integrated circuit to be reset while the state of the access control module is preserved.

Claims (85)

1 . An integrated circuit comprising:

one or more modules that are configured to be reset in response to a reset command;

an access control module comprising one or more first memory elements configured to store state data indicating a state of the access control module, the access control module configured to be reset in response to the reset command, such that state data in the one or more first memory elements is cleared in response to a reset signal;

one or more second memory elements configured to:

retain stored data during reset sequence of the access control module;

obtain data from the one or more first memory elements in response to a save signal;

and provide data to the one or more first memory elements in response to a restore signal; and

reset control logic configured to:

cause the integrated circuit to be reset while the state of the access control module is preserved; and

cause the reset by performing a sequence of operations that includes

(i) issuing the save signal to cause the one or more second memory elements to obtain, from the one or more first memory elements, the state data that indicates the state of the access control module,

(ii) issuing the reset signal to cause the one or more modules and the access control module to be reset, and

(iii) issuing the restore signal to cause the state data for the access control module to be restored to the one or more first memory elements from the one or more second memory elements.

2 . The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein:

the state data for the access control module specifies a configuration of the access control module or values of settings for the access control module; and

the access control module is configured to use contents stored in the one or more first memory elements to set operation of the access control module.

3 . The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the state data comprises one or more of an operating setting, an access permission value, an encryption key, a memory pointer, or a mask register value.

4 . The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein:

the one or more modules each have respective memory elements and state data; and

the integrated circuit is configured such that issuing the reset signal causes:

the state data of the access control module in the one or more first memory elements to be cleared or set to a default value; and

the state data in the memory element of the one or more modules to be cleared or set to default values.

5 . The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein:

the access control module and the one or more first memory elements are powered in a first power domain of the integrated circuit; and

the one or more second memory elements is powered in a second power domain of the integrated circuit that is different from the first power domain that powers the one or more first memory elements and the rest of the access control module.

6 . The integrated circuit of claim 1 , further comprising a power management logic configured to cause the access control module to be powered down while the state of the access control module is preserved by performing operations comprising:

before powering down the access control module, issuing the save signal to cause the one or more second memory elements to obtain, from the one or more first memory elements, the state data that indicates the state of the access control module; and

after powering up the access control module, issuing the restore signal to cause the state data for the access control module to be restored to the one or more first memory elements from the one or more second memory elements.

7 . The integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the reset control logic comprises a state machine configured to issue the save signal, the reset signal, and the restore signal.

8 . A method comprising:

receiving a reset command at an integrated circuit,

the integrated circuit comprising:

multiple modules comprising an access control module and one or more additional modules, the access control module comprising one or more first memory elements to store state data specifying a current state of the access control module,

the one or more first memory elements configured to be cleared during a sequence of the access control module; and

one or more second memory elements configured to retain stored data during reset of the access control module; and

in response to receiving the reset command, performing the request sequence of the multiple modules of the integrated circuit while preserving state data indicating a state of the access control module, the reset sequence of the multiple modules of the integrated circuit comprising:

obtaining the state data of the access control module from the one or more first memory elements;

storing the state data in the one or more second memory elements of the access control module;

after saving the state data in the one or more second memory elements, resetting the access control module and the one or more additional modules; and

after resetting the access control module and the one or more modules, restoring the state of the access control module, the restoring comprising storing the state data from the one or more second memory elements in the one or more first memory elements;

wherein the reset sequence of the multiple modules of the integrated circuit is performed by a reset control logic comprising a state machine configured to issue:

a save signal, the obtaining the state data of the access control module from the one or more first memory elements responsive to the save signal;

a reset signal, wherein the one or more first memory elements is cleared in response to the reset signal; and

a restore signal, the storing of the state data in the one or more first memory elements of the access control module responsive to the restore signal.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the state data for the access control module specifies a configuration of the access control module or values of settings for the access control module; and

the access control module is configured to use contents stored in the one or more first memory elements to set operation of the access control module.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the state data comprises one or more of an operating setting, an access permission value, an encryption key, a memory pointer, or a mask register value.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the one or more additional modules each have respective memory elements and state data; and

the integrated circuit is configured such that issuing the reset command causes:

the state data of the access control module in the one or more first memory elements to be cleared or set to a default value; and

the state data in the memory element of the one or more additional modules to be cleared or set to default values.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the access control module and the one or more first memory elements are powered in a first power domain of the integrated circuit; and

the one or more second memory elements is powered in a second power domain of the integrated circuit that is different from the first power domain that powers the one or more first memory elements and the rest of the access control module.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the integrated circuit comprises power management logic configured to cause the access control module to be powered down while the state of the access control module is preserved by performing operations comprising:

before powering down the access control module, issuing the save signal to cause the one or more second memory elements to obtain, from the one or more first memory elements, the state data that indicates the state of the access control module; and after powering up the access control module, issuing the restore signal to cause the state data for the access control module to be restored to the one or more first memory elements from the one or more second memory elements.

14 . One or more non-transitory machine-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause a device to:

receive a reset command at an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit comprising:

multiple modules comprising an access control module and one or more additional modules,

the access control module comprising one or more first memory elements to store state data specifying a current state of the access control module,

the one or more first memory elements configured to be cleared during a reset sequence of the access control module; and

one or more second memory elements configured to retain stored data during the reset sequence of the access control module; and

in response to receipt of the reset command, perform the request sequence of the multiple modules of the integrated circuit while preserving state data indicating a state of the access control module; the reset sequence of the multiple modules of the integrated circuit comprising:

obtaining the state data of the access control module from the one or more first memory elements;

storing the state data in the one or more second memory elements of the access control module;

after saving the state data in the one or more second memory elements, resetting the access control module and the one or more additional modules; and

after resetting the access control module and the one or more modules, restoring the state of the access control module, the restoring comprising storing the state data from the one or more second memory elements in the one or more first memory elements;

wherein the reset sequence of the multiple modules of the integrated circuit is performed by a reset control logic comprising a state machine configured to issue:

a save signal, the obtaining the state data of the access control module from the one or more first memory elements responsive to the save signal;

a reset signal, wherein the one or more first memory elements is cleared in response to the reset signal; and

a restore signal, the storing of the state data in the one or more first memory elements of the access control module responsive to the restore signal.

15 . The non-transitory machine-readable media of claim 14 , wherein:

the state data for the access control module specifies a configuration of the access control module or values of settings for the access control module; and

the access control module is configured to use contents stored in the one or more first memory elements to set operation of the access control module.

16 . The non-transitory machine-readable media of claim 14 , wherein the state data comprises one or more of an operating setting, an access permission value, an encryption key, a memory pointer, or a mask register value.

17 . The non-transitory machine-readable media of claim 14 , wherein:

the one or more additional modules each have respective memory elements and state data; and the integrated circuit is configured such that issuing the reset signal causes: the state data of the access control module in the one or more first memory elements to be cleared or set to a default value; and the state data in the memory element of the one or more additional modules to be cleared or set to default values.

18 . The non-transitory machine-readable media of claim 14 , wherein:

the access control module and the one or more first memory elements are powered in a first power domain of the integrated circuit; and

the one or more second memory elements is powered in a second power domain of the integrated circuit that is different from the first power domain that powers the one or more first memory elements and the rest of the access control module.

19 . The non-transitory machine-readable media of claim 14 , wherein the integrated circuit comprises power management logic configured to cause the access control module to be powered down while the state of the access control module is preserved by performing operations comprising:

before powering down the access control module, issuing the save signal to cause the one or more second memory elements to obtain, from the one or more first memory elements, the state data that indicates the state of the access control module; and

after powering up the access control module, issuing the restore signal to cause the state data for the access control module to be restored to the one or more first memory elements from the one or more second memory elements.