Diagnostic mode switching

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20070167785
  • Publication Number
    20070167785
  • Date Filed
    November 20, 2006
    17 years ago
  • Date Published
    July 19, 2007
    16 years ago
Abstract
A system is described having a JTAG diagnostic unit 2 and a serial wire diagnostic unit 4. A watcher unit 6 is connected to a data connection 14 shared between the diagnostic units 2, 4. Special patterns detected upon the shared data connection 14 serve to switch between diagnostic modes with respective ones of the diagnostic units 2, 4 becoming active.
Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a portion of an integrated circuit including multiple diagnostic units and a watcher unit; and



FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the states moved between when controlling switching between the diagnostic modes with the example embodiment of FIG. 1.


Claims
  • 1. Apparatus for processing data, said apparatus comprising: a first diagnostic unit operable in a first diagnostic mode to communicate diagnostic data with an external diagnostic device in accordance with a first data communication technique;a second diagnostic unit operable in a second diagnostic mode to communicate diagnostic data with said external diagnostic device in accordance with a second data communication technique;one or more diagnostic data connections coupled to both said first diagnostic unit and said second diagnostic unit and operable to provide diagnostic data communication between said apparatus and said external diagnostic device; anda watcher unit coupled to at least one of said one or more diagnostic data connections and operable in response to detection of a predetermined signal pattern at said at least one of said one or more diagnostic data connections to switch between said first diagnostic mode and said second diagnostic mode.
  • 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more diagnostic data connections comprises a plurality of diagnostic data connections, said first diagnostic unit communicating diagnostic data using all of said plurality of diagnostic data connections in said first diagnostic mode.
  • 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second diagnostic unit communicates diagnostic data using at least one of said plurality of diagnostic data connections in said second diagnostic mode.
  • 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said watcher unit is responsive to a first predetermined pattern to switch from said first diagnostic mode to said second diagnostic mode and is responsive to a second predetermined pattern, different from said first predetermined pattern, to switch from said second diagnostic mode to said first diagnostic mode.
  • 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when operating in said first diagnostic mode, said second diagnostic unit is held in a first predetermined state.
  • 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first predetermined state is a reset state.
  • 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when operating in said second diagnostic mode, said first diagnostic unit is held in a second predetermined state.
  • 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second predetermined state is a reset state.
  • 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when operating in said first diagnostic mode, said watcher unit is enabled to start detecting said predetermined signal pattern when said first diagnostic unit is placed into a reset state.
  • 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when operating in said second diagnostic mode, said watcher unit is enabled to start detecting said predetermined signal pattern when said second diagnostic unit is placed into a reset state.
  • 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined pattern is one which does not trigger a currently active one of said first diagnostic unit and said second diagnostic unit to change any state of said apparatus outside said currently active one of said first diagnostic unit and said second diagnostic unit.
  • 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of said diagnostic data comprises one or more of: debug data;trace data; andmanufacturing test data.
  • 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first diagnostic unit is a JTAG diagnostic unit.
  • 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said JTAG diagnostic unit includes a JTAG TAP controller state machine having states corresponding to an IR leg for shifting in instruction data and said first predetermined signal pattern triggers state changes within said JTAG TAP controller state machine that move twice through said IR leg without shifting in any instruction data and return to a reset state of said JTAG diagnostic unit.
  • 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said JTAG diagnostic unit includes a JTAG TAP controller state machine having states corresponding to a Test-Logic-Reset state, a Run-Test/Idle state, a Select-DR state, a Select IR state, a shift state, an update state and a capture state and said first predetermined signal pattern triggers state changes within said JTAG TAP controller state machine that move between said Test-Logic-Reset state, said Run-Test/Idle state, said Select DR state and said Select IR state without entering any of said shift state, said update state and said capture state.
  • 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second diagnostic unit is a serial wire protocol diagnostic unit.
  • 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said serial wire protocol diagnostic unit communicates using packets of data each including data header and said second predetermined signal pattern corresponding to an invalid data header.
  • 18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said watcher unit is not clocked when not active to detect said predetermined pattern.
  • 19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus is an integrated circuit and said one or more diagnostic data connections are pin connections of said integrated circuit.
  • 120. Apparatus for processing data, said apparatus comprising: a first diagnostic unit means for communicating diagnostic data in a first diagnostic mode with an external diagnostic device means in accordance with a first data communication technique;a second diagnostic unit means for communicating diagnostic data in a second diagnostic mode with said external diagnostic device means in accordance with a second data communication technique;one or more diagnostic data connection means coupled to both said first diagnostic unit means and said second diagnostic unit means for providing diagnostic data communication between said apparatus and said external diagnostic device means; anda watcher unit means coupled to at least one of said one or more diagnostic data connections for switching in response to detection of a predetermined signal pattern at said at least one of said one or more diagnostic data connections between said first diagnostic mode and said second diagnostic mode.
  • 21. A method of communicating diagnostic data for an apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: in a first diagnostic mode communicating diagnostic data between a first diagnostic unit and an external diagnostic device in accordance with a first data communication technique;in a second diagnostic mode communicating diagnostic data between a second diagnostic unit and said external diagnostic device in accordance with a second data communication technique;coupling one or more diagnostic data connections to both said first diagnostic unit and said second diagnostic unit to provide diagnostic data communication between said apparatus and said external diagnostic device; andusing a watcher unit coupled to at least one of said one or more diagnostic data connections and responsive to detection of a predetermined signal pattern at said at least one of said one or more diagnostic data connections to switch between said first diagnostic mode and said second diagnostic mode.
  • 22. A diagnostic device for connection to an apparatus for processing data, said diagnostic apparatus comprising: one or more diagnostic data connections for coupling to both a first diagnostic unit and a second diagnostic unit within said apparatus for processing data and operable to provide diagnostic data communication between said apparatus for processing data and said diagnostic device; anda signal generator operable to generate a predetermined signal pattern at said at least one of said one or more diagnostic data connections to switch said apparatus for processing data between a first diagnostic mode in which said first diagnostic unit communicates diagnostic data with said diagnostic device in accordance with a first data communication technique and said second diagnostic mode in which said second diagnostic unit communicates diagnostic data with said diagnostic device in accordance with a second data communication technique.
  • 23. A diagnostic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said one or more diagnostic data connections comprises a plurality of diagnostic data connections, said first diagnostic unit communicating diagnostic data using all of said plurality of diagnostic data connections in said first diagnostic mode.
  • 24. A diagnostic device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said second diagnostic unit communicates diagnostic data using at least one of said plurality of diagnostic data connections in said second diagnostic mode.
  • 25. A diagnostic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said signal generator generates a first predetermined pattern to switch said apparatus for processing data from said first diagnostic mode to said second diagnostic mode and generates a second predetermined pattern, different from said first predetermined pattern, to switch said apparatus for processing data from said second diagnostic mode to said first diagnostic mode.
  • 26. A diagnostic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein, when said apparatus for processing data is operating in said first diagnostic mode, said signal generator is operate to generate signals to place said first diagnostic unit into a reset state before generating said predetermined signal pattern.
  • 27. A diagnostic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein, when said apparatus for processing data is operating in said second diagnostic mode, said signal generator is operate to generate signals to place said second diagnostic unit into a reset state before generating said predetermined signal pattern.
  • 28. A diagnostic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said predetermined pattern is one which does not trigger a currently active one of said first diagnostic unit and said second diagnostic unit to change any state of said apparatus for processing data outside said currently active one of said first diagnostic unit and said second diagnostic unit.
  • 29. A diagnostic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein at least some of said diagnostic data comprises one or more of: debug data;trace data; andmanufacturing test data.
  • 30. A diagnostic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said first diagnostic unit is a JTAG diagnostic unit.
  • 31. A diagnostic device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said JTAG diagnostic unit includes a JTAG TAP controller state machine having states corresponding to an IR leg for shifting in instruction data and said first predetermined signal pattern triggers state changes within said JTAG TAP controller state machine that move twice through said IR leg without shifting in any instruction data and return to a reset state of said JTAG diagnostic unit.
  • 32. A diagnostic device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said JTAG diagnostic unit includes a JTAG TAP controller state machine having states corresponding to a Test-Logic-Reset state, a Run-Test/Idle state, a Select-DR state, a Select IR state, a shift state, an update state and a capture state and said first predetermined signal pattern triggers state changes within said JTAG TAP controller state machine that move between said Test-Logic-Reset state, said Run-Test/Idle state, said Select DR state and said Select IR state without entering any of said shift state, said update state and said capture state.
  • 33. A diagnostic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said second diagnostic unit is a serial wire protocol diagnostic unit.
  • 34. A diagnostic device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said serial wire protocol diagnostic unit communicates using packets of data each including data header and said second predetermined signal pattern corresponding to an invalid data header.
  • 35. A diagnostic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said apparatus for processing data is an integrated circuit and said one or more diagnostic data connections are pin connections of said integrated circuit.
  • 36. A diagnostic device for connection to an apparatus for processing data, said diagnostic apparatus comprising: one or more diagnostic data connection means for coupling to both a first diagnostic unit and a second diagnostic unit within said apparatus for processing data and operable to provide diagnostic data communication between said apparatus for processing data and said diagnostic device; anda signal generator means for generating a predetermined signal pattern at said at least one of said one or more diagnostic data connections to switch said apparatus for processing data between a first diagnostic mode in which said first diagnostic unit communicates diagnostic data with said diagnostic device in accordance with a first data communication technique and said second diagnostic mode in which said second diagnostic unit communicates diagnostic data with said diagnostic device in accordance with a second data communication technique.
  • 37. A method of communicating diagnostic data between a diagnostic device and an apparatus for processing data, said method comprising the steps of: coupling one or more diagnostic data connections to both a first diagnostic unit and a second diagnostic unit within said apparatus for processing data to provide diagnostic data communication between said apparatus for processing data and said diagnostic device; andgenerating a predetermined signal pattern at said at least one of said one or more diagnostic data connections to switch said apparatus for processing data between a first diagnostic mode in which said first diagnostic unit communicates diagnostic data with said diagnostic device in accordance with a first data communication technique and said second diagnostic mode in which said second diagnostic unit communicates diagnostic data with said diagnostic device in accordance with a second data communication technique.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
0526448.6 Dec 2005 GB national