Patent ID: 7526692

Claim:
A method of performing a diagnostic operation on a memory device of the type including a plurality of functional interconnects utilized in reading data from the memory device and writing data to the memory device, the method comprising: enabling a diagnostic interface on the memory device by dynamically reconfiguring a subset of the functional interconnects to operate in a diagnostic mode, including changing a function of a first functional interconnect from the subset of functional interconnects that communicates address or data information to communicate control information when in the diagnostic mode; communicating diagnostic information over the diagnostic interface while the subset of functional interconnects are in the diagnostic mode; and disabling the diagnostic interface by dynamically reconfiguring the subset of the functional interconnects to operate in a functional mode, wherein disabling the diagnostic interface is performed in response to at least one of a command received over the diagnostic interface, expiration of a timer, a detection of inactivity on the diagnostic interface, and starting a clock.