Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICS) in conjunction with Electronic Circuit Boards (ECBS) are prevalent in today&#39;s electronics as they are becoming more functional and easier and cheaper to manufacture. As a result, the need to test an ASIC or ECB after manufacture for the purposes of quality assurance has arisen. Various tests involving forced logical values at electronic circuit inputs can be performed on the ASIC or ECB to verify that the design has been implemented correctly. Typically, because the design is known beforehand, a forced logical value at each input point will yield an expected logical value at each output which can be monitored to verify the expected results with respect to every possible combination of input values.  
         [0002]     In the past, a technician would typically connect each input of an electronic circuit to be tested to a logic-value generator and each output to a logic-value reader. Then, the technician could force the inputs to a specific pattern of logical values (e.g., ones and zeroes) to determine if the output points behaved as expected. This, of course, becomes very time and labor intensive for larger ASICs and ECBs. As such, tools, such as an Automatic Test Pattern Generator (ATPG), were developed to alleviate the time and labor involved. With an ATPG, the technician only needs to configure the ATPG once with the correct parameters for the electronic circuit to be tested and then place it in the ATPG. The ATPG is then able to test the electronic circuit using every possible combination of inputs to verify expected outputs. This test, which is sometimes called a scan vector test or simply, scan vectors, may be easily repeated for other similar electronic circuits.  
         [0003]     Scan vectors work very well for electronic circuits that only have logical circuitry. However, some electronic circuits also have memory blocks that are not as predictable as logical circuits. More specifically, memory blocks, such as Random Access Memory (RAM), are very difficult to test when part of an electronic circuit because predicting the value at an output of a RAM block based on the input requires knowledge of the values currently stored in the cells of the RAM block. Thus, the technician would again need to individually test each and every input and output without the benefit of automation using an ATPG.  
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of a conventional electronic circuit having a RAM block  100  that includes associated input logic  110  and output logic  120 . The associated input logic  110  and output logic  120  is typically included in a package operable to interface with a larger electronic system (not shown). The input logic  110  and the output logic  120  are typically designed to provide the appropriate logical interface with the RAM block  100  since the RAM block  100  is typically a standard, “off-the-shelf” item. As such, for the larger electronic system to interface with the RAM block  100 , input logic  110  and output logic  120  are designed to provide signal paths to and from the RAM block  100 . Furthermore, in  FIG. 1  and throughout this disclosure, memory blocks, such as RAM block  100  include many inputs and many outputs, but only one input path  101  and one output path  102  is shown for clarity.  
         [0005]     As discussed above, predicting the logic value at the output  102  of the RAM block  100  based on the logic value at the input  101  is not easily accomplished in a testing environment. This also makes it difficult to observe the inputs  101  of the RAM block  100 . In  FIG. 1 , two test flip-flops, a launch flip-flop  111  and a capture flip-flop  121 , are used to interface the input logic  110  and the output logic  120 , respectively. In a typical testing situation, known logic values forced at the launch flip-flop  111  will necessarily cause predictable logic values at the capture flip-flop  121 . However, because the RAM block  100  is not predictable, there is no way to verify the design of the input logic  110  and output logic  120  because the logic value at the capture flip-flop  121  cannot be predicted based upon the logic value forced at the launch flip-flop  111 . Thus, in an electronic circuit such as in  FIG. 1 , conventional means for verifying the logical circuitry comprising the input logic  110  and the output logic  120  cannot be used. As a result, the input logic  110  and the output logic  120  remain untested and unverified.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a conventional electronic circuit having a solution of the past that implements a bypass circuit in conjunction with a RAM block  200 . In this solution, a bypass multiplexor  205  is used to select between the actual output signal at the output  202  of the RAM block  200  or a bypass signal on a bypass signal line  230  connected directly to the input of the RAM block  200 . A scan mode bit  206  sets the bypass multiplexor  205  to select one signal over the other. By setting the scan mode bit  206  at the multiplexor  205  to a high logic value, a signal on the bypass signal line  230  is allowed to pass through the bypass multiplexor  205  and a signal from the output  202  of the RAM block  200  is ignored. In this manner, a technician can predict exactly how the entire logical path between the input logic  210  and the output logic  220  will behave. Thus, a conventional scan vector test used in an ATPG will be able to verify the input logic  210  and output logic  220  when the scan mode bit  206  is set to a high logic value.  
         [0007]     On the other hand, when not in scan mode (i.e., scan mode bit  206  is set to a low logic value), any signal that reaches the input  201  of the RAM block  200  propagates normally through the RAM block  200  and a logic value is generated at the output  202  of the RAM block  200  accordingly. The output logic value passes through the bypass multiplexor  205  to the output logic  220  because the Scan Mode bit  206  is set to a low logic value at the bypass multiplexor  205 . At the same time, any signal that propagates on the bypass signal line  230  will terminate at the bypass multiplexor  205  because the scan mode bit  206  is set to a low logic value. As a result, the entire electronic circuit behaves as though no bypass circuit were present.  
         [0008]     Some problems, however, present themselves with this solution. One such problem involves timing exceptions that arise when the logical path is tested using a bypass circuit. Typically, during a test using an ATPG to generate scan vectors, it is desirable to do so “at-speed.” That is, it is more beneficial to test the electronic circuit at the speed at which it normally operates which implies proper timing with respect to the number of clock cycles and the period of those clock cycles. As such, an electronic circuit having a RAM block  200  between input logic  210  and output logic  220  will take two clock cycles for an operation to complete. During a first clock cycle, a logic value is input to the RAM block  200  and during a second clock cycle, the RAM block  200  generates a logical output value. As a result, the typical operation of the circuit in  FIG. 2  requires two clock cycles for signals to propagate from the launch flip-flop  211  to the capture flip-flop  221 .  
         [0009]     In scan mode (i.e., scan mode bit  206  is set to a high logic value), however, the logic value propagates from the input logic  210  through the bypass signal line  230  to the output logic  220  on a single clock cycle. Thus, a timing problem arises when testing the logical circuits  210  and  220 . The timing problem is caused by the fact that the data must propagate through both input logic  210  and output logic  220  in one clock cycle during scan model, while in non-scan mode (scan mode bit  206  is set to a low logic value) the data has almost 2 clock cycles to propagate through the same logic (input logic  210  and output logic  220 ). Thus, the test results do not accurately reflect the actual performance of the electronic circuit. This problem makes it difficult or impossible to test this particular path “at-speed” with respect to the larger electronic system in which the electronic circuit is part (i.e., the ASIC).  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a conventional electronic circuit that includes a bypass flip-flop  340 , between the input logic  310  and the multiplexor  305 , which solves the timing issues discussed above with respect to  FIG. 2 . In this solution, like the one discussed above in  FIG. 2 , a bypass multiplexor  305  is used to select between the actual output signal at the output  302  of the RAM block  300  or a bypass signal on a bypass signal line  330  connected directly to the input of the RAM block  300 . A scan mode bit  306  sets the bypass multiplexor  305  to select one signal over the other. Again, by setting the scan mode bit  306  to a high logic value, a signal from the bypass flip flop  340  is allowed to pass through the bypass multiplexor  305  and any signal from the output  302  of the RAM block  300  is rejected. In this manner, a technician can predict exactly how the entire logical path between the input logic  310  and the output logic  320  will behave. Thus, a conventional scan vector test using an ATPG will be able to verify the input and output logic  310  and  320  when the scan mode bit  306  is set to a high logic value.  
         [0011]     The bypass signal line flip-flop  340  provides a capture device that passes the value of the signal on the input  301  of the RAM block  300  to the multiplexor  305  on a subsequent clock signal. As a result, in scan mode (i.e., when the scan mode bit  306  is set to a high logic value), the signal propagating though the bypass signal line  330  and the bypass signal line flip-flop  340  behave more like the RAM block  300  because two clock cycles are used to fully propagate signals from the launch flip-flop  311  to the capture flip-flop  321 .  
         [0012]     This solution allows the electronic circuit to be tested “at-speed” with respect to the rest of the electronic system (i.e., the ASIC); however, other problems are still present. In some electronic circuits, the critical path is very important, and any additional circuitry that is inserted into the electronic circuit may affect the critical path, i.e., add time to the propagation of signals through the electronic circuit. As such, the bypass multiplexor  205  and  305  of either  FIG. 2  or  FIG. 3  may add to the critical path. Typically, an added multiplexor may cause a timing addition of 100 picoseconds or more which is unacceptable for high-performance electronic circuits.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of yet another conventional circuit for testing logic in an electronic circuit that includes a RAM block  400  or other similar memory block. Instead of a bypass multiplexor of the previous solutions in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the electronic circuit of  FIG. 4  utilizes registered tri-state circuitry. Some RAM blocks  400  or other memory blocks are available with outputs  402  that are tri-state capable.  
         [0014]     Devices that are tri-state enabled use an enable bit, such as scan mode bit  406 , to set each respective output  402  to be enabled. Thus, when tri-state outputs  402  are enabled (i.e., the scan mode bit  406  is set to a low logic value), the outputs  402  of the RAM block  400  function normally. During a scan test, however, the scan mode bit  406  may be set to a high logic value and the outputs  402  of the RAM block  400  are then disabled. At the same time, a bypass signal line  430  which is connected directly to the inputs  401  of the RAM block  400  are coupled to a bypass tri-state driver  405 , such that the signal on the bypass signal line  430  is allowed to pass when the scan mode bit  406  is set to a high logic value. In this manner, a technician can again predict exactly how the entire logical path between the input logic  410  and the output logic  420  will behave because the input signal bypasses the RAM block  400  through the bypass signal line  430  during a scan test. Therefore, a conventional scan vector test in an ATPG will be able to verify the input logic  410  and output logic  420 .  
         [0015]     The conventional solution of  FIG. 4  also suffers from similar problems that the conventional solutions of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . For example, the solution still requires additional circuitry for the bypass signal line  430  in addition to requiring that the RAM block  400  have tri-state outputs. This requirement then leads to more complicated interfaces with the ATPG which may not be configured to handle tri-state circuitry. Furthermore, devices having tri-state driver outputs maybe more expensive than devices that have normal outputs in terms of size and performance. Additionally, as was the case before, the critical path timing is still impacted because tri-state driver  405  and the bypass flip-flop  440  add loading which will lead to additional propagation time.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     An embodiment of the invention is directed to an integrated circuit that includes a memory block having at least one input and at least one output that wherein a critical path in the integrated circuit exists through the memory block. At least one input is associated with a block of input logic and at least one output is associated with a block of output logic. The integrated circuit further includes a test circuit coupled to the memory block and operable to verify the block of input logic and the block of output logic while at the same time not impacting the critical path of the integrated circuit.  
         [0017]     According to one embodiment, the test circuit includes a launch flip-flop operable to force a logic value on the input through the block of input logic, a capture flip-flop operable to read a logic value received from the output through the block of output logic, and a bypass circuit coupled to the launch flip-flop and the memory block which is operable to receive a logic value from the launch flip-flop, select a test mode input in the memory block different from the other input to the memory block, and pass the logic value to the output.  
         [0018]     Such a test circuit is able to be used to verify the logic blocks of an integrated circuit without impacting the critical path of various functional signals in an integrated circuit. As a result, time-critical functions that require time-critical integrated circuits can still use a mass-produced integrated circuit having test circuitry therein for use with a typical ATPG that performs a standard scan vector test. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of a conventional electronic circuit having a RAM block that includes associated input logic and output logic;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a conventional electronic circuit having a solution of the past that implements a multiplexor bypass circuit in conjunction with a RAM block;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a conventional electronic circuit that includes a bypass flip-flop that solves the complex timing issues associated with the conventional electronic circuit of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of yet another conventional circuit for testing logic in a circuit that includes RAM blocks or other similar memory devices;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an electronic circuit having a front-end bypass test circuit for testing logic according to an embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a typical ATPG that may be used in conjunction with the electronic circuit of  FIG. 5  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]     The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The general principles described herein may be applied to embodiments and applications other than those detailed above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed or suggested herein.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an electronic circuit having a front-end bypass test circuit for testing logic according to an embodiment of the invention. The electronic circuit includes typical elements associated with an ATPG such as launch flip-flop  511  and capture flip-flop  521 . The electronic circuit to be tested resides between the launch flip-flop  511  and the capture flip-flop  521  and, in this embodiment, the electronic circuit to be tested includes input logic  510  and output logic  520  associated with a memory block, such as the RAM block  500 . The electronic circuit also includes front-end bypass circuitry  508 . These elements and their relationships between each other are detailed in the following paragraphs.  
         [0028]     As was discussed previously in the background section, it is extremely difficult to predict the logical outcome of values passed through a memory block in an electronic circuit using a scan vector test in an ATPG tester. As such, a reliable and predictable way of passing logical values either through or around the memory block is needed such that known values loaded at the launch flip-flop  511  will yield expected logical values at the capture flip-flop  521 .  
         [0029]     One such way utilizes an off-the-shelf type of memory block that includes a write-through capability and a Built-In Self-Test mode (BIST mode) inputs. A memory block that has write-through capability, such as RAM block  500 , monitors a specific write-through input  535  to determine the operation of its inputs and outputs. In one embodiment, if the write-through input  535  is set to a low logic value, the outputs of the RAM block  500  typically operate normally according to the functions of the memory blocks. On the other hand, if the write-through input  535  is set to a high logic value, the outputs of the RAM block  500  typically reflect the logic value of respective corresponding inputs. That is, any logic value received on an input will be written directly through to a corresponding output. Although discussed in more detail below with respect to the operation of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , memory blocks having write-through capability are well-known in the industry and will not be discussed in further detail herein.  
         [0030]     The RAM block  500  also includes a BIST mode such that another input is able to set the RAM block  500  to a BIST mode (e.g., BIST input  536  set to a high logical value) or a functional mode (e.g., BIST input  536  set to a low logical value). When in BIST mode, a memory block will typically receive inputs through dedicated test inputs (e.g., test mode input  551 ) and when in functional mode, a memory block will receive inputs through dedicated functional mode inputs (e.g., functional mode input  552 ). As a result, when in BIST mode, logical values on the functional input  552  will be ignored, and, when in functional mode, logical values on the test mode input  551  will be ignored. Again, this aspect of the RAM block  500  is discussed in more detail below with respect to the operation of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; however, memory blocks having BIST capability are also well-known in the industry and will not be discussed in further detail herein.  
         [0031]     As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the electronic circuit monitors inputs that include write-through input  535 , BIST input  536 , and scan mode input  506 . Various combinations of logical values on these inputs control some aspects of the operation of the entire electronic circuit. The schematic layout and connections of these inputs are discussed below and then a discussion of the operation of the electronic circuit in the various combinations of input values is presented.  
         [0032]     The write-though mode input  535  controls the operation of the output multiplexor  565  (only one is shown for clarity, but several may all be linked to the same write-through mode input  535 ). In one embodiment, when the write-through input  535  is set to a low logic value, the output multiplexor  565  recognizes the logical values received from the RAM cells  504  according to normal operation of the RAM block  500  and passes these logic values to the output  502  of the RAM block  500  (again, only one shown for clarity), while at the same time ignoring any logic value on the write-through bypass line  555 . Likewise, when the write-through input  535  is set to a high logic value, the output multiplexor  565  recognizes the logical values received on the write-through bypass line  555  and also passes these logic values to each respective RAM block output  502 , while at the same time ignoring any logic value from the RAM cells  504 .  
         [0033]     Similarly, the BIST input  536  controls the operation of the input multiplexor  560  (only one is shown for clarity, but several may all be linked to the same BIST mode input  536 ). This input multiplexor can reside inside or outside of the RAM block. In one embodiment, when the BIST input  536  is set to a high logic value, the input multiplexor  560  recognizes the logical values received on the test mode input  551  and passes these logic values accordingly, while at the same time ignoring any logic value on the functional mode input  552 . Likewise, when the BIST input  536  is set to a low logic value, the input multiplexor  560  recognizes the logical values received on the functional mode input  552  and also passes these logic values accordingly while at the same time ignoring any logic value on the test mode input  551 .  
         [0034]     Both the write-through mode and BIST mode are discussed in greater detail below with respect to the operation of this embodiment of the electronic circuit of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0035]     As was briefly mentioned above, the embodiment of  FIG. 5  includes front-end bypass circuitry  508  for handling scan tests when in an ATPG environment. The front-end bypass circuitry  508  includes an observation flip-flop  550  and a front-end multiplexor  517 . The input of the observation flip-flop  550  is coupled to the functional input  552  of the RAM block  500 . The electronic circuit of  FIG. 5  may include bypass circuitry  508  for each input to the RAM block  500 , but only one is shown here for clarity. The output of the observation flip-flop  550  is coupled to one of two selectable inputs on the front-end multiplexor  517 . The other input of the front-end multiplexor  517  is coupled to a signal line from a BIST circuit  516  (not shown in detail).  
         [0036]     The input which the front-end multiplexor  517  selects is determined by the logic value of the BIST input  536 . In one embodiment, when the BIST input  536  is set to a high logic value, the front-end multiplexor  517  recognizes the logical values received from the BIST circuit  516  and passes these logic values accordingly while at the same time ignoring any logic value from the observation flip-flop  550 . Likewise, when the BIST input  536  is set to a low logic value, the front-end multiplexor  517  recognizes the logical values received from the observation flip-flop  550  and passes these logic values accordingly while at the same time ignoring any logic value from the BIST circuit  516 .  
         [0037]     In a similar manner to the BIST input  536 , the scan mode input  506  also controls the operation of the input multiplexor  560  (only one is shown for clarity, but several may all be linked to the same scan mode input  506 ). In one embodiment, when the scan mode input  506  is set to a high logic value, the input multiplexor  560  recognizes the logical values received on the test mode input  551  and passes these logic values accordingly. Likewise, when the scan mode input  506  is set to a low logic value, each input multiplexor  560  recognizes the logical values received on the functional mode input  552  and also passes these logic values accordingly. Since the input multiplexor  560  is coupled to two different inputs (scan mode input  506  and BIST input  536 ), if either one is set to a high logic value, then the input multiplexor  560  selects the test mode input  551  for passing signals and rejects logic values on the functional mode input  552 . This may be accomplished by using OR gate  507  such that the signal line controlling the input multiplexor  560  is a high logic value if either the scan mode input  506  or BIST input  536  or both are at a high logic value.  
         [0038]     With these three inputs (scan mode input  506 , BIST input  536 , and write-through input  535 ) controlling some aspects of the operations of the electronic circuit, eight possible control states exist with respect to these three binary input values. While a technician has the option of setting up to eight control states using the three binary inputs values, the primary control states for the purposes of the present invention include a functional mode state, a scan mode state, and a BIST mode state. Although other input combinations exist (and consequently, other possible control states, such as write-though mode), only the afore-mentioned control states will be discussed herein as the other combinations may be duplicative and/or unused.  
         [0039]     In a first control state, the electronic circuit may be set for functional mode. In this control state, each of the inputs (write-through input  535 , scan mode input  506 , and BIST input  536 ) is set to a low logic value. As such, logic signals that are initiated at the launch flip-flop  511  propagate through the input logic  510  to the functional mode input  552 . At the input multiplexor  560 , the logic value at the functional mode input  552  is recognized while any logic value at the test mode input  551  is ignored because neither the scan mode input  506  nor the BIST input  536  is set to a high logic value. Thus, only the logic value on the functional mode input  552  is allowed to pass. Furthermore, even though logic values are, in fact, passed through the observation flip-flop  550  and the front-end multiplexor  517 , any resultant logic value on the test mode input  551  is ignored because the input multiplexor  560  is set to only pass logic values on the functional mode input  552 . In essence, when in functional mode operation, the electronic circuit is unconcerned with any signals propagating through the front-end circuitry  508 .  
         [0040]     Once logic values are passed to the RAM block  500  at the input multiplexor  560 , the RAM block  500  behaves normally. That is, input values are passed to RAM cells  504  according to the parameters of operation of the RAM block  500  itself. Additionally, all logic values at the input multiplexor  560  are passed along the write-through bypass line  555  to the output multiplexor  565 . The output multiplexor  565  is set to only recognize logic values from the RAM cells  504 , however, as the write-through mode input  535  is set to a low logic value when in functional mode operation. As a result, even though logic values are passed to the output multiplexor  565  on the write-through bypass line  555 , the output multiplexor  565  ignores these logic values because the write through input  535  is set to a low logic value. The recognized logic values from the RAM cells  504  are passed to the output  502  of the RAM block  500 , then to the output logic  520 , and eventually to the capture flip-flop  521 .  
         [0041]     The front-end bypass circuit  508  is not used in functional mode since its main purpose is control and observation of the RAM block inputs  551  during scan mode. Furthermore, the timing of signals propagating through the electronic circuit will be approximately two clock cycles. During a first clock cycle, a logic value propagates to the input of the RAM block  500  through the input logic  510 . Likewise, during a second clock cycle, the logic value propagates from the output of the RAM block  500  through the output logic  520 . The additional time that it takes a signal to pass through the multiplexors  560  and  565  inside the RAM block  500  have a negligible timing impact with respect to the two clock cycles during functional mode operation despite the fact that they are designed into the RAM block  500  and are not removable. Thus, it is desirable that any testing of the electronic circuit is also accomplished in the same time frame (i.e., two clock cycles).  
         [0042]     When a technician needs to test the input logic  510  and output logic  520  using an ATPG, the technician may set the scan mode control state wherein the scan mode input  506  is set to a high logic value. At the same time, the write-through input  535  is also set to a high logic value to take advantage of the write-through capability of the RAM block  500 . The BIST input  536  remains at a low logic value during an ATPG test.  
         [0043]     In this control state (scan mode), logic signals that are initiated at the launch flip-flop  511  propagate normally through the input logic  510  to the functional mode input  552 . At the input multiplexor  560 , any logic value at the functional mode input  552 , however, is ignored, while, at the same time, any logic value at the test mode input is recognized because the scan mode input  506  is set to a high logic value which controls the input multiplexor  560 . Thus, only the logic value on the test mode input  551  is allowed to pass. Any resultant logic value on the test mode input  551  is recognized and passed because the input multiplexor  560  is set to only pass logic values on the test mode input  551 . In essence, when in scan mode operation, the electronic circuit is unconcerned with any signals propagating to the functional mode input  552  at the RAM block  500 .  
         [0044]     Furthermore, logic values on the functional mode input  552  are also the same as logic values at the input to the observation flip-flop  550 , and are passed through the observation flip-flop  550  and the front-end multiplexor  517  accordingly. The front-end bypass multiplexor  517 , in scan mode, is set to recognize and pass logic values from the output of the observation flip-flop  550  while ignoring any logic values from the BIST circuit  516 . This is because the BIST input  536  is still set to a low logic value.  
         [0045]     Once logic values are passed to the RAM block  500  at the input multiplexor  560 , the RAM block  500  again behaves normally. That is, input values are passed to RAM cells  504  according to the parameters of the RAM block  500  itself. Additionally, all logic values at the input multiplexor  560  are passed along the write-through bypass line  555  to the output multiplexor  565 . However, in scan mode, the output multiplexor  565  is set to only recognize logic values from the write-through bypass line  555  and to ignore any logic values from the RAM cells  504 . This is because the write-through mode input  535  is set to a high logic value when in scan mode operation. As a result, even though logic values are passed to the output multiplexor  565  from the RAM cells  504 , the output multiplexor  565  ignores these logic values because the write through input  535  is set to a high logic value. The recognized logic values from the write-through bypass line  555  are passed to the output  502  of the RAM block  500 , then to the output logic  520 , and eventually to the capture flip-flop  521 .  
         [0046]     In scan mode, the launch flip-flop  511  and the capture flip-flop  521  will, in fact, be part of the overall logical circuitry in the electronic circuit as these flip-flops are a typical feature of an ATPG environment that facilitates the testing procedure. Furthermore, much like the timing of signals in functional mode, the timing of signals propagating through the electronic circuit in scan mode will also be approximately two clock cycles. During a first clock cycle, a logic value propagates to the input of the observation flip-flop  550  through the input logic  510 . Likewise, during a second clock cycle, the logic value propagates from the output observation flip-flop  550  through the RAM block  500  and the output logic  520 . Again, the additional time that it takes a signal to pass through the multiplexors  560  and  565  inside the RAM block  500  as well as the bypass multiplexor  517  is negligible with respect to the two clock cycles during scan mode operation. Therefore, any testing of the logic is accomplished in the same time frame (i.e., two clock cycles) as the timing of the functional mode. That is, the scan test may be run at-speed.  
         [0047]     Furthermore, the bypass circuitry  508  is not within the critical path of the electronic circuit. Thus, the critical path of the electronic circuit will remain as fast as possible while at the same time still having test circuitry (bypass circuitry  508 ) for testing the circuit at-speed.  
         [0048]     A third control state that is available in this embodiment of the invention is a BIST mode. In this control state, logic signals that are initiated at the launch flip-flop  511  (or any other circuit that may be coupled to the input logic  510 ) propagate normally through the input logic  510  to the functional mode input  552 . As was the case with scan mode, at the input multiplexor  560 , the logic value at the functional mode input  552  is ignored. Any logic value at the test mode input  551  is recognized because the BIST input  536  is set to a high logic value. Thus, only logic values on the test mode input  551  are allowed to pass and any resultant logic values on the test mode input  551  are recognized and passed because the input multiplexor  560  is set to only pass logic values on the test mode input  551 . In essence, when in BIST mode operation, the electronic circuit is unconcerned with any signals propagating to the functional mode input  552  at the RAM block  500 .  
         [0049]     The front-end bypass multiplexor  517 , in the BIST mode, is set to recognize and pass logic values from the BIST circuit  516  while ignoring any logic values from the output of the observation flip-flop  550 . This is because the BIST mode input  536  is set to a high logic value causing the bypass multiplexor  517  to only recognize and pass signals from the BIST circuit  516 .  
         [0050]     Once logic values are passed to the RAM block  500  at the input multiplexor  560 , the RAM block  500  behaves according to the parameters of the BIST testing procedures. The BIST parameters are not described in further detail as they are not within the scope of the present invention. Thus, signals may be passed to the output  502  of the RAM block  500 , then to the output logic  520  and eventually to the capture flip-flop  521  according to known BIST test procedures.  
         [0051]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a typical ATPG  600  that may be used in conjunction with the electronic circuit of  FIG. 5  according to an embodiment of the invention. The ATPG  600  includes two test paths that may be used to compare a first electronic circuit against a standard test circuit or a second electronic circuit. As shown, the first path  610  includes a first launch flip-flop  611 , a first input logic  612  a test flip-flop  613 , a first output logic  614  and a first capture flip-flop  615 . Likewise, the second path  620  also includes a second launch flip-flop  621 , a second input logic  622 , a second output logic  624 , and a second capture flip-flop  625 . Additionally, instead of a test flip-flop, the second path  620  includes a device between the input logic  622  and output logic  624 , such as RAM block  623 . The second input logic  622 , the RAM block  623  and the output logic  624  may be similar to the electronic circuit of  FIG. 5  and may also include the bypass circuitry  508  of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0052]     As such, a technician may perform a scan vector test using the ATPG  600  of  FIG. 6  on both the first path  610  and the second path  620 . The results may be analyzed and compared according to known test procedures. Furthermore, each test may be performed at-speed such that testing is accomplished at the same speed in which the electronic circuit in either path would operate normally.

Technology Category: 3