Nvidia Corporation

Rajith Mavila

Shantanu Sarangi

Jae Wu

Andi Skende

Kwok San Lee

Venkata Suresh Perumalla

Manufacturers perform tests on chips before the chips are shipped to customers. However, defects can occur on a chip after the manufacturer testing and when the chips are used in a system or device. The defects can occur due to aging or the environment in which the chip is employed and can be critical; especially when the chips are used in systems such as autonomous vehicles. To verify the structural integrity of the IC during the lifetime of the product, an in-system test (IST) is disclosed. The IST enables self-testing mechanisms for an IC in working systems. The IST mechanisms provide structural testing of the ICs when in a functional system and at a manufacturer's level of testing. Unlike ATE tests that are running on a separate environment, the IST provides the ability to go from a functional world view to a test mode.

In system test of chips in functional systems

In-system test of chips in functional systems

In various embodiments, rail decoupling circuits that are powered by an always on voltage rail allow a core voltage rail to power up independently of an I/O voltage rail without jeopardizing I/O pad circuits that are powered by the I/O voltage rail. In an embodiment, when the always on voltage rail is powered-up and a chip reset signal is asserted, the rail decoupling circuits drive control inputs of the I/O pad circuits based on default values. When the chip reset signal is de-asserted, the rail decoupling circuits drive the control inputs of the I/O pad circuits based on signals received from circuits powered by the core voltage rail. Because the rail decoupling circuits maintain control of the I/O pad circuits until the chip-reset is de-asserted, the core voltage rail can power up at any time before the chip-reset signal is de-asserted irrespective of when the I/O voltage rail powers up.

Simplifying power sequencing for integrated circuits

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Rajith Mavila