Semiconductor Register Reconfiguration for Hidden Post-Silicon Fixes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for post-silicon validation of semiconductors, which involve configuration changes via communication protocol-based scripts, complicate development, increase processing load on end-user devices, and expose hidden register configurations, potentially reducing customer confidence in semiconductor products.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a register control circuitry that utilizes reconfiguration data stored in memory to adjust internal configurations of semiconductors without revealing unintended conditions to end-users, allowing for complex corrective actions and timing control of configuration changes, thereby reducing the need for silicon repatterning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If communication protocol-based scripts are used for configuration changes during post-silicon validation, then semiconductor developers can detect and redress unintended conditions, but the development process becomes complicated and processing load on end-user devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (trigger event monitoring circuitry and reconfiguration data storage) that mediates between the unintended condition detection and the configuration change application. This intermediary automatically manages the reconfiguration process without requiring complex external scripting, thereby reducing development complexity while maintaining validation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The semiconductor device is enabled to perform self-diagnosis and self-reconfiguration through internal trigger event monitoring and automatic reconfiguration data application. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex external processing scripts, reducing both development complexity and end-user device processing load while maintaining reliable post-silicon validation
2Reliability
If communication protocol-based scripts are used for configuration changes, then unintended conditions can be detected, but hidden register configurations are exposed to end-users, potentially reducing customer confidence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses reconfiguration data stored in a dedicated memory structure as an intermediary that enables configuration changes without exposing the underlying register details to end-users. The trigger event monitoring circuitry automatically matches detected conditions with stored reconfiguration data and applies corrections, keeping the process opaque to users while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy mechanism where reconfiguration data (which is the complement of the unintended condition) is stored in memory. When a trigger event occurs, the system automatically applies the complementary configuration to correct the issue without exposing the original register configurations to end-users, thus preserving information secrecy while enabling validation
3Ease of repair
If complex corrective actions are implemented through external scripts, then unintended conditions can be redressed, but the processing load on end-user devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The semiconductor device performs self-correction by internally monitoring trigger events and automatically applying reconfiguration data from stored memory. This eliminates the need for external processing scripts that would burden end-user devices, as the corrective action is executed autonomously within the semiconductor device itself, reducing processing load and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares reconfiguration data in advance and stores it in memory before runtime. When a trigger event occurs, the pre-prepared corrective configuration is immediately applied without requiring complex real-time processing, thereby reducing the processing load on end-user devices while maintaining effective correction capability
Data Source
AI summary
An example apparatus includes a register, a memory to store reconfiguration data associated with the register, and register control circuitry. The example register control circuitry is to determine whether the memory includes the reconfiguration data corresponding to a trigger event experienced by state machine circuitry. Additionally, the example register control circuitry is to, based on determining that the memory includes the reconfiguration data corresponding to the trigger event, reconfigure the register identified in the reconfiguration data with a value included in the reconfiguration data.