IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,480,578
Granted Patent B2
US 7,480,578 · App. 11/546,831 · Granted Jan 20, 2009

Configurable voltage regulator

Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,480,578
App. No.
11/546,831
Granted
Jan 20, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A testing system comprises a configurable integrated circuit that has M predetermined configurations that are selected based upon an input signal. The configurable integrated circuit generates a selected one of M discrete values of an output characteristic of the configurable integrated circuit based on the selected one of the M predetermined configurations, where M is an integer greater than one. An integrated circuit is tested in accordance with an output of the configurable integrated circuit.

Claims (38)

1. A testing system comprising:

a configurable integrated circuit that has M predetermined configurations that are selected based upon an input signal,

wherein said configurable integrated circuit generates a selected one of M discrete values of an output characteristic of said configurable integrated circuit based on said selected one of said M predetermined configurations, where M is an integer greater than one; and

an integrated circuit that is tested in accordance with an output of said configurable integrated circuit.

2. The testing system of claim 1 wherein said integrated circuit includes at least one of a memory circuit and a central processing unit.

3. The testing system of claim 1 further comprising a test module that tests operation of said integrated circuit while said integrated circuit operates based upon at least two of said M discrete values of said output characteristic.

4. The testing system of claim 3 wherein said test module is integrated with said integrated circuit.

5. The testing system of claim 3 wherein said test module communicates with said integrated circuit.

6. The testing system of claim 1 further comprising a selector control module that generates said input signal.

7. The testing system of claim 6 wherein said input signal includes a up signal that increases said selected one of said M discrete values of said external characteristic and a down signal that decreases said selected one of said M discrete values of said external characteristic.

8. The testing system of claim 1 further comprising:

P additional configurable integrated circuits that communicate with said configurable integrated circuit in a daisy chain configuration; and

P additional circuits that communicate with a respective one of said P additional configurable integrated circuits.

9. A method for testing comprising:

providing a configurable integrated circuit that has M predetermined configurations;

selecting one of said M predetermined configurations based upon an input signal;

generating a selected one of M discrete values of an output characteristic of said configurable integrated circuit based on said selected one of said M predetermined configurations, where M is an integer greater than one; and

testing an integrated circuit in accordance with an output of said configurable integrated circuit.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said integrated circuit includes at least one of a memory circuit and a central processing unit.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising testing operation of said integrated circuit while said integrated circuit operates based upon at least two of said M discrete values of said output characteristic.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising integrating said test module integrated with said integrated circuit.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising generating said input signal, wherein said input signal includes a up signal that increases said selected one of said M discrete values of said external characteristic and a down signal that decreases said selected one of said M discrete values of said external characteristic.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing P additional configurable integrated circuits that communicate with said configurable integrated circuit in a daisy chain configuration; and

providing P additional circuits that communicate with a respective one of said P additional configurable integrated circuits.

15. A testing system comprising:

configurable integrated circuit means for providing M predetermined configurations that are selected based upon an input signal,

wherein said configurable integrated circuit means generates a selected one of M discrete values of an output characteristic of said configurable integrated circuit means based on said selected one of said M predetermined configurations, where M is an integer greater than one; and

integrated circuit means that is tested in accordance with an output of said configurable integrated circuit means.

16. The testing system of claim 15 wherein said integrated circuit means includes at least one of storing means for storing data and processing means for processing data.

17. The testing system of claim 15 further comprising test means for testing operation of said integrated circuit means while said integrated circuit means operates based upon at least two of said M discrete values of said output characteristic.

18. The testing system of claim 17 wherein said test means is integrated with said integrated circuit means.

19. The testing system of claim 17 wherein said test means communicates with said integrated circuit means.

20. The testing system of claim 15 further comprising selector control means for generating said input signal.

21. The testing system of claim 20 wherein said input signal includes a up signal that increases said selected one of said M discrete values of said external characteristic and a down signal that decreases said selected one of said M discrete values of said external characteristic.

22. The testing system of claim 15 further comprising:

P additional configurable integrated circuit means for communicating with said configurable integrated circuit means in a daisy chain configuration; and

P additional circuit means that communicate with a respective one of said P additional configurable integrated circuit means.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2020
From: CAVIUM INTERNATIONAL
To: MARVELL ASIA PTE, LTD.
Reel/Frame 053475/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2020
From: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
To: CAVIUM INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 052918/0001 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 1151793200 · Sep 8, 2006
Continuation In Part 1141137700 · Apr 26, 2006
Division 1122025500 · Sep 6, 2005
Division 1025137200 · Sep 19, 2002
Provisional Application 6082410800 · Aug 31, 2006
Provisional Application 6082087400 · Jul 31, 2006
Provisional Application 6081881700 · Jul 6, 2006
Related Publication 20070043987A1 · Feb 22, 2007