VDict mobile



(circuit design) A technique used to increase the
controllability and observability of a logic circuit by
incorporating "scan registers" into the circuit. Normally
these act like flip-flops but they can be switched into a
"test" mode where they all become one long shift register.
This allows data to be clocked serially through all the scan
registers and out of an output pin at the same time as new
data is clocked in from an input pin.
Using this technique, the state of certain points in the
circuit can be examined and modified at any time by suspending
normal operation and switching to test mode. If the scan path
is placed adjacent to the circuit's input and output pins then
this is known as "boundary scan".
(1995-02-14)