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Chip has a Propeller 2 key functions test chip. . . — Parallax Forums

Chip has a Propeller 2 key functions test chip. . .

Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
edited 2011-01-16 05:26 in Propeller 1
Hey all,

Chip came by the office today to pick up a bunch of test equipment and a handful of Propeller 2 test die rails just returned by the Taiwan fab.

These are far from production test chips, but an important step in the engineering design process to prove several core functions. There's still lots of layout work to be done and he's figuring out the best way to achieve it. I'm sure Chip will visit the forums pretty soon when he can provide an update.

These are 40-pin DIPs. They don't resemble the production package we would actually be using.

I was excited to see these chips and I thought you may be, too.

Ken Gracey
Parallax Inc.

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Chip-P2TestChip.jpg
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Comments

  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2011-01-03 20:44
    Cool!!! Now it's fun time for a while. Chip gets to run "the machine" :)
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-01-03 20:49
    That's interesting. I thought that they would be bare die, and would have to be probed.
  • HShankoHShanko Posts: 402
    edited 2011-01-03 20:54
    Oh Boy. Finally, the chips are in Chips hands.

    Now the real 'fun' begins. Wishing a smooth testing time. (My fingers, eyes and legs are crossed.)
  • SapiehaSapieha Posts: 2,964
    edited 2011-01-03 20:56
    Hi Ken Gracey.

    Nice news. I have been excited to Have possibility to test that one.



    Ken Gracey wrote: »
    Hey all,

    Chip came by the office today to pick up a bunch of test equipment and a handful of Propeller 2 test die rails just returned by the Taiwan fab.

    These are far from production test chips, but an important step in the engineering design process to prove several core functions. There's still lots of layout work to be done and he's figuring out the best way to achieve it. I'm sure Chip will visit the forums pretty soon when he can provide an update.

    These are 40-pin DIPs. They don't resemble the production package we would actually be using.

    I was excited to see these chips and I thought you may be, too.

    Ken Gracey
    Parallax Inc.
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-01-03 21:07
    Chip has the look: I'm gonna be a daddy ... again !
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2011-01-03 21:29
    Fantastic news Ken. Yes, I too thought it would just be die.
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,717
    edited 2011-01-03 22:00
    Outstanding! 2011 is looking very exciting already despite being only 4 days old

    Those 40 pin Prop2's could be worth a lot of money one day for fanatical collectors. Better get Chip to sign them...
  • Toby SeckshundToby Seckshund Posts: 2,027
    edited 2011-01-03 23:08
    What did you have to go and say that for ??

    I was going to say that with all those unconnected pins that they wouldn't be worth much and, rather than just throwing them away, could I have one.
  • Roy ElthamRoy Eltham Posts: 3,000
    edited 2011-01-03 23:22
    He looks pretty happy to have those in his hands.

    Looking forward to the test results!
  • AleAle Posts: 2,363
    edited 2011-01-04 01:50
    Can we get a picture of the packaged chip ? :) Pretty please ? :lol:
  • BaggersBaggers Posts: 3,019
    edited 2011-01-04 02:17
    Thanks for sharing the good news Ken :D happy start for 2011 !!
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2011-01-04 02:42
    Very exciting! May your magic brown smoke stay inside your chips.
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2011-01-04 07:49
    So when will I be able to buy a Propeller-II?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-01-04 08:01
    Never. They are just test chips for some of the functional blocks.
  • HShankoHShanko Posts: 402
    edited 2011-01-04 10:06
    Yeah, when can Chip have a 40-pinner 'smile pretty' for a photo for us eager beavers?
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2011-01-04 10:21
    Chip with his new children!! Excellent!!!

    With any luck I'll get a chance to see one of these up-close-and-personal in a couple weeks.

    I'll be in the neighborhood... :)

    OBC
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-01-04 10:24
    It would be nice to know what functions are being tested. I'd guess that they include the oscillator and PLL, and I/O circuitry, perhaps including the associated ADC and DAC.
  • bambinobambino Posts: 789
    edited 2011-01-04 10:28
    Speechless!!!!!!!!!!
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2011-01-04 11:55
    I would bet there is a COG or two on there, parts of the HUB, the RAM, Video Generator, all the I/O stuff, fuses, etc... Would be a fun list to know.
  • SapiehaSapieha Posts: 2,964
    edited 2011-01-04 12:11
    Hi potatohead.

    In this thread You can find what are on this die!


    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?125543-Propeller-II-update-BLOG/page6

    potatohead wrote: »
    I would bet there is a COG or two on there, parts of the HUB, the RAM, Video Generator, all the I/O stuff, fuses, etc... Would be a fun list to know.
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2011-01-04 12:48
    Just received a call from Chip with the following message "everything is looking good so far and the following works properly: power-up, brownout, oscillator circuitry".

    Ken Gracey
    Parallax Inc.
  • HShankoHShanko Posts: 402
    edited 2011-01-04 13:55
    Awaiting for the other 'shoe(s)' to drop. That is really good news, Ken. Thanks.

    Who's in charge of the 'camera'?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-01-04 13:59
    Here is what it contains:
    I can, this is just the test Die. Starting in the upper left corner and moving counter clockwise you have the COG_RAM, immediately under that (not very big, but packed, you have the DUALPORT_RAM. The large 'square' in the lower left is the HUB_RAM. The smaller 'square' in the lower right is the ROM. Following the outside perimeter at about 3'Oclock is the PLL. Above in the right most upper corner and moving left is the OSC, BOD (Brown Out Detector), and PUD(Power Up Detector).
    Under the BOD and OSC are programmable fuses.

    Just right of center is where everything is connecting to. Basically a chain of 8 32-bit flip flops with access to D and Q connecting to the inputs and outputs of everything I mentioned above.

    32 bits x 8 shift registers x 2 (D & Q) = 512 connections.

    I found it in the thread Sapieha mentioned.
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2011-01-04 17:03
    Great news. We are all waiting with baited breath for the next "it's working" statement :)
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2011-01-04 17:15
    Leon wrote: »
    Here is what it contains:



    I found it in the thread Sapieha mentioned.

    Okay, this is probably a dumb question but does the test chip include a COG? The paragraph that you quoted doesn't directly say it does. I'm assuming there wouldn't really be any way to test the other stuff without a programmable element on the chip. So, is there a COG on the test chip?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-01-04 17:44
    No, it doesn't. They will presumably need another test chip to prove that the cog works. The shift registers allow them to test everything.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2011-01-04 18:05
    Leon wrote: »
    No, it doesn't. They will presumably need another test chip to prove that the cog works. The shift registers allow them to test everything.
    Well, I guess that shoots my plan for talking Chip into giving me a test chip to play with! :-)
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2011-01-04 18:08
    Yes, I thought they would have one on there too. Seems the first pass test data is lower level than that.
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2011-01-05 06:04
    Well look at the extent of Chip's smile to ascertain the closeness of production. The wider the smile, the closer it becomes.
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2011-01-05 07:09
    Ken Gracey wrote: »
    Just received a call from Chip with the following message "everything is looking good so far and the following works properly: power-up, brownout, oscillator circuitry". Ken Gracey
    Parallax Inc.
    This is great! I'm working on a design that will utilize exactly one Propeller II. I thought I would get started early on the project and be prepared when the P2 is officially released.
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