IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,540,974
Granted Patent B2
US 12,540,974 · App. 18/438,860 · Granted Feb 3, 2026

Multiple access port circuits

Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel (Parker, TX)
Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
G01R31/3177G01R31/318536G01R31/318544G01R31/318555
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,540,974
App. No.
18/438,860
Granted
Feb 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for providing a shadow access port within a device. The shadow access port is accessed to perform operations in the device by reusing the TDI, TMS, TCK and TDO signals that are used to operate a test access port within the device. The presence and operation of the shadow access port is transparent to the presence and operation of the test access port. According to the disclosure, the shadow access port operates on the falling edge of the TCK signal while the test access port conventionally operates on the rising edge of the TCK signal.

Claims (78)

1 . A device comprising:

a test data in (TDI) terminal;

a test mode select (TMS) terminal;

a test clock (TCK) terminal;

a test data out (TDO) terminal;

a first access port circuit including a data input coupled to the TDI terminal, a control input coupled to the TMS terminal, a clock input coupled to the TCK terminal, a data output;

a second access port circuit including a data input coupled to the TDI terminal, a control input coupled to the TMS terminal, a clock input coupled to the TCK terminal, a data output; and

an output circuit including a first data input coupled to the data output of the first access port circuit, a second data input coupled to the data output of the second access port circuit, and a data output coupled to the TDO terminal.

2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising an inverter including:

an input coupled to the TCK terminal; and

an output coupled to the second access port circuit.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first access port circuit operates according to IEEE Standard 1149.1.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first access port circuit operates apart from IEEE Standard 1149.1.

5 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising test circuitry, wherein the first access port circuit is configurable to operate to access the test circuitry.

6 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising debug circuitry or trace circuitry, wherein the second access port circuit is configurable to operate to access the debug circuitry or the trace circuitry.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is an integrated circuit (IC) or a core within the IC.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first access port circuit further includes:

a data register coupled to the TDI terminal; and

an instruction register coupled to the TDI terminal.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the first access port circuit further includes a multiplexer circuit configurable to:

selectively couple the data register to the TDO terminal; and

selectively couple the instruction register to the TDO terminal.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the second access port circuit further includes:

a data register coupled to the TDI terminal; and

an instruction register coupled to the TDI terminal.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the second access port circuit further includes a multiplexer circuit configurable to:

selectively couple the data register to the TDO terminal; and

selectively couple the instruction register to the TDO terminal.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the output control circuit includes:

a first enable input coupled to the first access port circuit; and

a second enable input coupled to the second access port circuit.

13 . The device of claim 1 ,

wherein the first access port circuit is configurable to change states upon a rising edge of a clock signal at the TCK terminal, and

wherein the second access port circuit is configurable to change states upon a falling edge of the clock signal at the TCK terminal.

14 . The device of claim 1 ,

wherein the first access port circuit is configurable to change states upon a falling edge of a clock signal at the TCK terminal, and

wherein the second access port circuit is configurable to change states upon a rising edge of the clock signal at the TCK terminal.

15 . A system comprising:

a test data in (TDI) terminal;

a first test mode select (TMS) terminal;

a second TMS terminal;

a test clock (TCK) terminal;

a test data out (TDO) terminal;

a first device including:

a first access port circuit coupled to the TDI terminal, the first TMS terminal, and the TCK terminal;

a second access port circuit coupled to the TDI terminal, the first TMS terminal, and the TCK terminal; and

a first output control circuit coupled to the first access port circuit, the second access port circuit, and the TDO terminal; and

a second device including:

a third access port circuit coupled to the TDI terminal, the second TMS terminal, and the TCK terminal;

a fourth access port circuit coupled to the TDI terminal, the second TMS terminal, and the TCK terminal; and

a second output circuit coupled to the third access port circuit, the fourth access port circuit, and the TDO terminal.

16 . The system of claim 15 ,

wherein the first device includes a first inverter coupled between the TCK terminal and the second access port circuit, and

wherein the second device includes a second inverter gate circuit coupled between the TCK terminal and the fourth access port circuit.

17 . The system of claim 15 ,

wherein the first output circuit includes enable inputs coupled to the first access port circuit and the second access port circuit, and

wherein the second output circuit includes enable inputs coupled to the third access port circuit and the fourth access port circuit.

18 . A system comprising:

a test data in (TDI) terminal;

a test mode select (TMS) terminal;

a test clock (TCK) terminal;

a test data out (TDO) terminal;

a first device including:

a first access port circuit coupled to the TDI terminal, the TMS terminal, and the TCK terminal;

a second access port circuit coupled to the TDI terminal, the TMS terminal, and the TCK terminal; and

a first output circuit coupled to the first access port circuit and the second access port circuit; and

a second device including:

a third access port circuit coupled to the first output contrel circuit, the TMS terminal, and the TCK terminal;

a fourth access port circuit coupled to the first output control circuit, the TMS terminal, and the TCK terminal; and

a second output circuit coupled to the third access port circuit, the fourth access port circuit, and the TDO terminal.

19 . The system of claim 18 ,

wherein the first device includes a first inverter coupled between the TCK terminal and the second access port circuit, and

wherein the second device includes a second inverter coupled between the TCK terminal and the fourth access port circuit.

20 . The system of claim 18 , further comprising a third device including:

a fifth access port circuit coupled to the first output circuit, the TMS terminal, and the TCK terminal;

a sixth access port circuit coupled to the first output circuit, the TMS terminal, and the TCK terminal; and

a third output circuit coupled to the third access port circuit, the fourth access port circuit, the fifth access port circuit, and the sixth access port circuit,

wherein the third access port circuit and the fourth access port circuit are coupled to the first output circuit through the third device.

Continuity (13)
Division 18108720 · Feb 13, 2023
Division 17462572 · Aug 31, 2021
Division 16824371 · Mar 19, 2020
Division 16243269 · Jan 9, 2019
Division 16037649 · Jul 17, 2018
Division 15609950 · May 31, 2017
Division 14853315 · Sep 14, 2015
Division 14543411 · Nov 17, 2014
Division 13469812 · May 11, 2012
Division 13183113 · Jul 14, 2011
Division 12408284 · Mar 20, 2009
Provisional Application 61040337 · Mar 28, 2008
Related Publication 20240183903A1 · Jun 6, 2024
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