Programmable integrated circuit having built in test circuit
View Patent ↗A programmable integrated circuit has a plurality of logic elements with each logic element having a plurality of input leads and at least one output lead. The programmable integrated circuit further comprises a group of interconnect lines, and a first set of programmable circuits for electrically connecting the input and output leads of the plurality of logic elements to each other through the group of interconnect lines. The programmable integrated circuit further comprises a test circuit having at least one input and one output. Further the programmable integrated circuit comprises a second set of programmable circuits for electrically connecting the one output of the test circuit to the plurality of input leads of each of the plurality of logic elements and for electrically connecting the at least one output lead of each of the plurality of logic elements to the one input of the test circuit, through the group of interconnect lines.
1. An integrated circuit device comprising:
a plurality of logic elements, each logic element having a plurality of input leads and at least one output lead, and having a programmable circuit to cause said logic element to perform a selected logic function;
a group of interconnect lines;
a first programmable connection circuit for programmably connecting each of said input leads of a logic element to at least one of said group of interconnect lines, and for programmably connecting said at least one output lead of a logic element to at least one of said group of interconnect lines;
a programmable switch circuit for programmably connecting each of said interconnect lines to at least one other of said interconnect lines;
whereby each of said logic elements can be programmed to perform a selected one of a plurality of logic functions, and said logic elements can be connected to each other in a selectable manner;
a testing circuit for generating at least one test signal and having a plurality of output leads and for receiving at least one input lead;
a second programmable connection circuit for programmably connecting each of said output leads of the testing circuit to each of said input leads of each logic element, and for programmably connecting said at least one output lead of each logic element to at least one input lead of said test circuit; and
a plurality of AND gates connected in series having a first end and a second end, with each AND gate having at least two inputs and one output, with one of the two inputs of an AND gate connected to receive an output lead of a different logic element, and with the second input of each AND gate, except for the AND gate at the first end, connected to receive the output of an adjacent AND gate in the series, with the second input of the AND gate at the first end connected to a high voltage source, and with the output of the AND gate at the second end connected to the testing circuit;
whereby each of said logic elements can be tested by the testing circuit.
2. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein said testing circuit further comprises:
a test pattern generator circuit for generating a plurality of different test signals supplied on said output leads.
3. The integrated circuit device of claim 2 wherein said testing circuit further comprises:
a response analyzer circuit for analyzing signals received on said at least input lead connected to said plurality of logic elements.
4. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein said programmable switch circuit for programmably connecting each of said interconnect lines to at least one other of said interconnect lines comprises a non-volatile transistor.
5. The integrated circuit device of claim 4 wherein said non-volatile transistor is a split gate floating gate transistor.
6. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein said programmable circuit in each logic element to cause said logic element to perform a selected logic function comprises transistors.
7. The integrated circuit device of claim 6 wherein said programmable circuit further comprises a plurality of memory cells controlling said transistors.
8. The integrated circuit device of claim 7 wherein said plurality of memory cells form at least a part of a shift register, with control signals loaded into said memory cells by being transferred through said shift register until each of said control signals is located in said memory cells.
9. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of logic elements are arranged in an array.
10. A programmable integrated circuit comprising:
a plurality of logic elements, each logic element having a plurality of input leads and at least one output lead;
a group of interconnect lines;
a first set of programmable circuits for electrically connecting said input and output leads of said plurality of logic elements to each other through said group of interconnect lines;
a test circuit having at least one input and one output;
a second set of programmable circuits for electrically connecting said one output of said test circuit to the plurality of input leads of each of said plurality of logic elements and for connecting said at least one output lead of each of said plurality of logic elements to said one input of said test circuit, through said group of interconnect lines; and
a plurality of OR gates connected in series having a first end and a second end, with each OR gate having at least two inputs and one output, with one of the two inputs of an OR gate connected to receive an output lead of a different logic element, and with the second input of each OR gate, except for the OR gate at the first end, connected to receive the output of an adjacent OR gate in the series, with the second input of the OR gate at the first end connected to a low voltage source, and with the output of the OR gate at the second end connected to the test circuit.
11. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 10 wherein said test circuit further comprises:
a test pattern generator circuit for generating a plurality of different test signals supplied on said one output.
12. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 11 wherein said test circuit further comprises:
a response analyzer circuit for analyzing signals received on said at least input connected to said at least one output lead of each of said plurality of logic elements.
13. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 10 wherein said first set of programmable circuits programmably connects each of said interconnect lines to at least one other of said interconnect lines.
14. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 13 wherein said first set of programmable circuits comprises a non-volatile memory transistor.
15. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 10 wherein each of said logic elements comprises a programming circuit to cause said logic element to perform a selected logic function.
16. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 15 wherein said programming circuit further comprises a plurality of transistors, and a plurality of memory cells each memory cell controlling a corresponding transistor.
17. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 16 wherein said plurality of memory cells form at least a part of a shift register, with control signals loaded into said memory cells by being transferred through said shift register until each of said control signals is located in said memory cells.
18. The programmable integrated circuit of claim 10 wherein said plurality of logic elements are arranged in an array.
19. A programmable integrated circuit comprising:
a plurality of logic elements, each logic element having a plurality of input leads and at least one output lead, arranged in an array having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;
a group of interconnect lines, programmably connected to the plurality of input leads of each of said logic elements and programmably connected to at least one output lead of each of said logic elements, said group of interconnect lines arranged between rows of logic elements and between columns of logic elements;
a first set of programmable circuits for electrically routing signals supplied on said group of interconnect lines to various logic elements;
a test circuit having at least one input and one output;
a second set of programmable circuits for electrically connecting said one output of said test circuit to the plurality of input leads of each of said plurality of logic elements and for connecting said at least one output lead of each of said plurality of logic elements to said one input of said test circuit, through said group of interconnect lines;
a plurality of AND gates connected in series having a first end and a second end, with each AND gate having at least two inputs and one output, with one of the two inputs of an AND gate connected to receive an output lead of a different logic element, and with the second input of each AND gate, except for the AND gate at the first end, connected to receive the output of an adjacent AND gate in the series, with the second input of the AND gate at the first end connected to a high voltage source, and with the output of the AND gate at the second end connected to the test circuit; and
a plurality of OR gates connected in series having a first end and a second end, with each OR gate having at least two inputs and one output, with one of the two inputs of an OR gate connected to receive an output lead of a different logic element, and with the second input of each OR gate, except for the OR gate at the first end, connected to receive the output of an adjacent OR gate in the series, with the second input of the OR gate at the first end connected to a low voltage source, and with the output of the OR gate at the second end connected to the test circuit.