Patent ID: 7496813

Claim:
An integrated circuit comprising: at least one functional circuit operable to perform data processing operations using at least one functional signal; at least one diagnostic circuit operable to perform diagnostic operations upon said at least one functional circuit using at least one diagnostic signal; and at least one integrated circuit pin coupled to said at least one functional circuit and configured to provide a functional signal path for said at least one functional signal between said at least one functional unit and a functional device external of said integrated circuit; wherein said at least one integrated circuit pin is also coupled to said at least one diagnostic circuit and configured to provide a diagnostic signal path for said diagnostic signal between said at least one diagnostic circuit and a diagnostic device external of said integrated circuit, said diagnostic device is separate from said functional device; and said diagnostic signal has a form relative to said functional signal, wherein communication of said functional signal via said at least one integrated circuit pin continues whilst communication of said diagnostic signal via said at least one integrated circuit pin is also performed.