US Patent 10169177 Non-destructive online testing for safety critical applications

Embodiments herein describe a methodology for performing non-destructive LBIST when booting an integrated circuit (IC). In one embodiment, when powered on, the IC begins the boot process (e.g., a POST) which is then paused to perform LBIST. However, instead of corrupting or destroying the boot mode state of the IC, the LBIST is non-destructive. That is, after LBIST is performed, the booting process can be resumed in the same state as when LBIST began.