Broadcom Corporation

Zhongmin Zhang

James D Bennett

Mark Norman Fullerton

Love Kothari

Walid Nabhane

Veronica Alarcon

Ajmal A Godil

Aspects of enhanced recovery mechanisms are described. A predetermined operating parameter for a power rail is set at the outset of system start. Afterwards, a processor is released to start with a power management circuit. In turn, the power management circuit receives a default operating parameter for the power rail from the processor, and stores the default operating parameter. The power management circuit also receives a runtime operating parameter for the power rail from the processor and modifies the operating parameter for the power rail according to the runtime operating parameter. If an error condition in the processor is encountered, the power management circuit may modify the operating parameter for the power rail according to the default operating parameter in response to a reset control signal from the processor. Use of the default operating parameter for the power rail may assist the processor to recover from the error condition.

Enhanced recovery mechanisms

An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing test mode contact pad reconfigurations that expose individual internal functional modules or block groups in an integrated circuit for testing and for monitoring. A plurality of switches between each functional module switches between passing internal signals among the blocks and passing in/out signals external to the block when one or more contact pads are strapped to input a pre-determined value. Another set of switches between the functional modules and input/output contact pads switch between functional inputs to and from the functional modules and monitored signals or input/output test signals according to the selected mode of operation.

Integrated circuit with an adaptable contact pad reconfiguring architecture

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Zhongmin Zhang