Virtual Probe Sequencing (VPS)

Virtual Probe Sequencing (VPS) essentially turns any JTAG 1149.1 compliant device into a logic analyzer/oscilloscope, providing a method to virtually probe, capture and perform logic/timing analysis on “real-time” dynamic functional signals that never leave the SRA, assembly or system, or that are physically challenging or impossible to probe.

VPS takes advantage of the hundreds or thousands of virtual test points available on FPGAs, and other 1149.1 compliant devices, to perform data acquisition at these virtual test points during dynamic functional test, or during real-time system performance, via a JTAG interface.  VPS provides for a method to capture and analyze command and data traffic on highspeed 32/64-bit data and address busses, as well as control and timing signals to 1ns resolution. Once acquired, data can be analyzed for content and timing characteristics, or compared with known “good signatures”. 

VPS Development Environment

VPS Controller Hardware

VPS Analyzer GUI

Patent Number: 10,663,514

Issue Date: May 26, 2020