The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 30, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 26, 2000
Charles Robert Moore, Austin, TX (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A processor includes instruction sequencing logic, execution circuitry, data storage coupled to the execution circuitry, and test circuitry. The test circuitry detects for a hardware error in one of the instruction sequencing logic, execution circuitry, and data storage during functional operation of the processor in response to an instruction within an instruction stream provided by the instruction sequencing logic. In one embodiment, a hardware error can be detected by comparing values output in response to a test instruction by redundant circuitry that performs the same function. Alternatively or in addition, a hardware error can be detected by performing an arithmetic or logical operation having a known result (e.g., multiplication by 1, addition of 0, etc.) in response to the test instruction.