IP Library Granted Patent US 7,890,804
Granted Patent B2
US 7,890,804 · App. 11/906,153 · Granted Feb 15, 2011

Program memory test access collar

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,890,804
App. No.
11/906,153
Granted
Feb 15, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A memory access device includes logic to switch data from a processor memory bus to a memory bus in a first operational mode, and to switch data from a test bus to the memory bus in a second operational mode, and logic to switch address signals from the processor memory bus to the memory bus in the first operational mode. In the second operational mode the device accepts from the test bus a starting memory address for memory reads and writes, and automatically and independently of the test bus adjusts a memory address for reads and writes during burst memory operations.

Claims (42)

1. A memory access device comprising:

hardware logic and/or logic embodied in machine memory circuits to switch data from a processor memory bus to a memory bus in a first operational mode, and to switch data from a test bus to the memory bus in a second operational mode; and

hardware logic and/or logic embodied in machine memory circuits to switch address signals from the processor memory bus to the memory bus in the first operational mode, and in the second operational mode to accept from the test bus a starting memory address for memory reads and writes, and in the second operational mode to automatically adjust a memory address for reads and writes during burst memory operations wherein the test bus is not used in the propagation of signals to adjust the memory address for reads and writes during burst memory operations.

2. The memory access device of claim 1 , further comprising:

logic to switch control signals from the processor memory bus to the memory bus in the first operational mode, and in the second operational mode to provide control signals independently from the test bus to drive burst mode memory reads and writes.

3. The memory access device of claim 2 , wherein the logic to provide control signals independently from the test bus to drive burst mode memory reads and writes further comprises: logic to detect conclusion of memory reads and writes, and to adjust the memory address for reads and writes, independently of control signals from the test bus.

4. The memory access device of claim 1 , further comprising: multiplexers to switch the data, address, and control signals to the memory bus.

5. The memory access device of claim 1 , further comprising:

logic to set the first and second operational modes via the test bus.

6. The memory access device of claim 1 , further comprising:

logic to disable a processor clock in the second operational mode and to enable the processor clock in the first operational mode.

7. A device, comprising:

a processor comprising a processor memory bus;

a test bus;

a memory accessed via a memory bus; and a memory access device to selectively enable access to a memory bus from either the processor memory bus or a test bus, comprising:

logic to switch data from the processor memory bus to the memory bus in a first operational mode, and to switch data from the test bus to the memory bus in a second operational mode; and

logic to switch address signals from the processor memory bus to the memory bus in the first operational mode, and in the second operational mode to accept from the test bus a starting memory address for memory reads and writes, and in the second operational mode to automatically adjust a memory address for reads and writes during burst memory operations wherein the test bus is not used in the propagation of signals to adjust the memory address for reads and writes during burst memory operations.

8. The device of claim 7 , the memory access device further comprising:

logic to switch control signals from the processor memory bus to the memory bus in the first operational mode, and in the second operational mode to provide control signals independently from the test bus to drive burst mode memory reads and writes.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the logic to provide control signals independently from the test bus to drive burst mode memory reads and writes further comprises:

logic to detect conclusion of memory reads and writes, and to adjust the memory address for reads and writes, independently of control signals from the test bus.

10. The device of claim 7 , the memory access device further comprising:

multiplexers to switch the data, address, and control signals to the memory bus.

11. The device of claim 7 , the memory access device further comprising:

logic to set the first and second operational modes via the test bus.

12. The device of claim 7 , the memory access device further comprising:

logic to disable a processor clock in the second operational mode and to enable the processor clock in the first operational mode.

13. The device of claim 7 , the memory comprising:

a program ROM, a program nvSRAM, and a data nvSRAM.

14. A method of selectively providing access to a memory from both a processor memory bus and a test bus, comprising:

switching data from the processor memory bus to a memory bus in a first operational mode, and switching data from the test bus to the memory bus in a second operational mode; and

switching address signals from the processor memory bus to the memory bus in the first operational mode, and, in the second operational mode, 1) accepting from the test bus a starting memory address for memory reads and writes, and 2) automatically adjusting a memory address for reads and writes during burst memory operations wherein the test bus is not used in the propagation of signals to adjust the memory address for reads and writes during burst memory operations.

15. The process of claim 14 , further comprising:

switching control signals from the processor memory bus to the memory bus in the first operational mode, and in the second operational mode providing control signals independently from the test bus to drive burst mode memory reads and writes.

16. The process of claim 15 , wherein providing control signals independently from the test bus to drive burst mode memory reads and writes further comprises:

detecting conclusion of memory reads and writes, and adjusting the memory address for reads and writes, independently of control signals from the test bus.

17. The process of claim 14 , further comprising:

switching the data, address, and control signals to the memory bus using multiplexers.

18. The process of claim 14 , further comprising:

setting the first and second operational modes via the test bus.

19. The process of claim 14 , further comprising:

disabling a processor clock in the second operational mode and enabling the processor clock in the first operational mode.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 059410/0438 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Oct 28, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050896/0366 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2008
From: SIMTEK CORPORATION
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021771/0821 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2008
From: HOFFMAN, ROBERT S.; MANN, GREGORY J.
To: SIMTEK
Reel/Frame 020619/0871 →