Integrated Circuit Signal Interface Controller for Diagnostic Multiplexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Integrated circuits face challenges in communicating diagnostic signals due to limited space, leading to increased silicon and package costs, as well as high power consumption, due to the need for dedicated pins for trace and debug operations which are only occasionally used.

Innovation Solution

A single signal interface is used to communicate both functional and diagnostic signals, with a controller dynamically switching between them based on monitored signals, allowing for time division multiplexing and reducing the need for dedicated pins, thus minimizing packaging costs and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If dedicated pins are provided for diagnostic signals, then diagnostic communication capability is improved, but silicon area and package size increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic communication capabilityVSAvoidsilicon area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by enabling existing functional pins to serve dual purposes: communicating both functional signals during normal operation and diagnostic signals during debugging/trace operations. The signal interface controller dynamically configures pin functionality based on operational mode, eliminating the need for separate dedicated diagnostic pins while maintaining full diagnostic capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges diagnostic signal communication with existing functional signal interfaces. By combining diagnostic and functional communication pathways into a single shared interface, the patent reduces the total number of pins required while preserving both functional and diagnostic communication capabilities through time-division and protocol-based multiplexing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If dedicated pins are provided for diagnostic signals, then diagnostic communication capability is improved, but package size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic communication capabilityVSAvoidpackage size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The signal interface controller enables existing package pins to perform multiple functions by dynamically switching between functional signal mode and diagnostic signal mode. This multi-functionality approach allows the same physical pin to communicate both types of signals without requiring additional package pins, thereby maintaining diagnostic capability while avoiding package size increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines diagnostic and functional communication into a shared pin infrastructure. By merging these communication pathways and using intelligent signal multiplexing controlled by the signal interface controller, the patent eliminates the need for separate package pins for diagnostic signals, thus preventing package size enlargement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If dedicated pins are provided for trace operations, then trace communication bandwidth is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrace communication bandwidthVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by enabling diagnostic signal communication only during specific operational periods when debugging or trace operations are required, rather than maintaining continuous dedicated trace communication capability. The signal interface controller activates diagnostic mode periodically based on operational needs, reducing power consumption during normal functional operation while maintaining trace bandwidth capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The signal interface controller enables existing pins to provide high-bandwidth trace communication capability on-demand by configuring them for diagnostic mode during trace operations. This multi-functionality approach allows the same pins to deliver full trace bandwidth when required while consuming minimal power during normal functional operation, eliminating the need for continuously powered dedicated trace pins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8275579B2Communication of a diagnostic signal and a functional signal by an integrated circuit

Publication Date: 2012.09.25 ARM LTD

AI summary

An integrated circuit 300 includes a functional circuit 310 and a diagnostic circuit 330. The integrated circuit includes a signal interface controller 320 operable to monitor a signal associated with at least one of the functional circuit and the diagnostic circuit to control selective communication of a diagnostic signal and a functional signal for communication across a signal interface in dependence upon the monitored signal. A further integrated circuit has a signal interface providing a communication path and communicates a functional signal having at least one multi-bit value in which at least one bit is replaced by data of a diagnostic signal.