A non-intrusive isolation approach for soft cores

Ozgur Sinanoglu, Tsvetomir Petrov

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Cost effective SOC test strongly hinges on parallel, independent test of SOC cores, which can only be ensured through proper core isolation techniques. While a core isolation mechanism can provide controllability and observability at the core I/O interface, its implementation may have various implications on area, functional timing, test time and data volume, and at-speed coverage on the core interface. In this paper, we propose a non-intrusive core isolation technique that is based on the utilization of existing core registers for isolating the core. We provide a core register partitioning algorithm that is capable of identifying the core interface registers, and of robustly isolating a core, resulting in a computationally efficient core isolation implementation that is area and performance efficient at the same time. The proposed isolation technique also ensures minimal test time increase and no at-speed coverage loss on the core interface, offering an elegant solution for soft cores, and thus enabling significant SOC test cost reductions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings - 2007 Design, Automation and Test in Europe Conference and Exhibition, DATE 2007
Pages27-32
Number of pages6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007
Event2007 Design, Automation and Test in Europe Conference and Exhibition - Nice Acropolis, France
Duration: Apr 16 2007Apr 20 2007

Publication series

NameProceedings -Design, Automation and Test in Europe, DATE
ISSN (Print)1530-1591

Other

Other2007 Design, Automation and Test in Europe Conference and Exhibition
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityNice Acropolis
Period4/16/074/20/07

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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