Patent ID: 8522089

Claim:
A method of testing a semiconductor device that includes a first module and a second module that are mutually asynchronous, a buffer for storing transaction data for read/write operations from said first module and transferring the stored transaction data to said second module synchronously with an operational data transfer rate of said second module, and an inhibit input for receiving an inhibit signal, said second module including a transaction data output and being operative both in normal use of the device and during test of the device to receive said transaction data from said buffer and to transfer the received transaction data to said transaction data output when said inhibit signal is de-asserted and not to receive transaction data nor transfer transaction data to said transaction data output when said inhibit signal is asserted, the method of testing comprising repeatedly: asserting said inhibit signal from an automatic test equipment to inhibit transfer of transaction data to said transaction data output; providing test transaction data from said automatic test equipment to said first module and storing said test transaction data in said buffer while said inhibit signal is asserted; de-asserting said inhibit signal so that said second module transfers test transaction data received from said buffer to said transaction data output synchronously at said operational data transfer rate of said second module; and capturing the test transaction data deterministically from said transaction data output of said second module on said automatic test equipment.