1. A computer system for built-in testing of an unused element on a semiconductor chip, the system comprising:
the chip, comprising:
a plurality of chip elements, the plurality of chip elements comprising a plurality of active elements, each active element enabled to perform a respective function, and at least one unused element comprising one of a masked element and a redundant element, the at least one unused element disabled from performing the respective function and configured to be selectively enabled as an active element; and
a built-in self test (BIST) engine, the chip configured to perform a method comprising:
concurrently performing the respective functions of the respective active elements and a BIST test of the at least one unused element by the BIST engine, the BIST test comprising:
inputting an input test pattern to the unused element;
receiving an output test pattern based on the input test pattern from the unused element;
comparing the input test pattern to the output test pattern; and
determining whether the unused element passed or failed the testing based on the comparison.
2. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising, based on determining that the unused element failed the testing and based on the unused element comprising the masked element, flagging the chip for replacement.
3. The computer system of claim 1, the method further comprising, based on determining that the unused element failed the testing and based on the unused element comprising the redundant element, masking the redundant element.
4. The computer system of claim 1, the method further comprising, based on determining that the unused element passed the testing and based on the unused element comprising the redundant element, configuring a first active element of the chip to be a redundant element, and configuring the redundant element to be a second active element to replace the first active element.
5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein determining whether the unused element passed or failed the testing based on the comparison comprises:
determining an error rate for the unused element based on the comparison;
determining that the unused element passed based on the error rate being lower than an error rate threshold, wherein the error rate threshold is determined based on whether the unused element comprises a redundant element or a masked element; and
determining that the unused element failed based on the error rate being higher than the error rate threshold.
6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein determining whether the unused element passed or failed the testing based on the comparison comprises:
determining an error rate for the unused element based on the comparison;
comparing the error rate to a stored error rate that was determined during previous testing of the unused element to determine a rate of change of the error rate for the unused element;
determining that the unused element passed based on the rate of change of the error rate being lower than a rate of change threshold, wherein the rate of change threshold is determined based on whether the unused element comprises a redundant element or a masked element; and
determining that the unused element failed based on the rate of change of the error rate being higher than the rate of change threshold.
7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the chip is a processor chip, and the plurality of chip elements are a plurality of processor cores.
8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the chip is a memory chip in a cache memory of the computer system, and the plurality of chip elements are a plurality of memory arrays.
9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of chip elements are divided into a plurality of test groups of chip elements, each test group comprising a respective BIST engine.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A rotary carousel apparatus for storing items on shelves comprising:
a stationary base for supporting one or more rotating components;
a central column fixed relative to the base, the central column having a central axis extending along a longitudinal length of the central column;
a rotatable first drive plate configured to rotate about the central axis; at least one rotatable second drive plate configured to rotate about the central axis; at least one torque tube assembly directly or indirectly coupled to the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate for torque transmission between the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate, the at least one torque tube assembly operative for rotational movement with a rotation of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate;
a drive assembly operatively coupled to at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate; and
at least one shelf connected to the at least one torque tube assembly, wherein rotation of the drive assembly causes a corresponding rotation of one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate connected thereto, and a rotation of the other of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate through the at least one torque tube assembly, and
wherein the drive assembly is connected to at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate by a drive hub and a flexible ring disposed between the drive hub and at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate to compensate for any misalignment conditions between the drive assembly, the drive hub, and at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate and limit backlash between the drive hub and at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate.
2. The rotary carousel apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly further comprises at least one motor having a driveshaft for providing a rotational input to the drive assembly.
3. The rotary carousel apparatus of claim 2, wherein the driveshaft of the motor is operatively coupled to at least one gear set for transferring a torque input from the driveshaft of the motor to at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate.
4. The rotary carousel apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bearing assembly having a fixed inner race connected to the central column and a rotating outer race connected to at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate.
5. The rotary carousel apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one torque tube assembly is assembled from at least one hollow torque tube having a plurality of pins extending through at least a portion of a sidewall of the at least one hollow torque tube.
6. The rotary carousel apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of torque tube assemblies, wherein a tie rod extends through each of the plurality of torque assemblies, and wherein the tie rod is directly or indirectly coupled to the rotatable first drive plate at a first end and the at least one rotatable second drive plate at a second end.
7. The rotary carousel apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises an adjustment mechanism for positioning the base in a level horizontal orientation.
8. The rotary carousel apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a hold-down bracket for fixedly coupling the base to a floor surface.
9. The rotary carousel apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of shelves are spaced apart along a longitudinal length of the central column.
10. The rotary carousel apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one guide wheel disposed between the central column and the at least one torque tube assembly.
11. A drive mechanism for rotating a rotary carousel apparatus, the drive assembly comprising:
a fixed central column having a central axis extending along a longitudinal length of the central column, wherein the fixed central column is adapted to be mounted to a stationary base;
a rotatable first drive plate configured to rotate about the central axis;
at least one rotatable second drive plate configured to rotate about the central axis;
at least one torque tube assembly directly or indirectly coupled to the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate for torque transmission between the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate, the at least one torque tube assembly operative for rotational movement with a rotation of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate;
and a drive assembly operatively coupled to one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate,
wherein rotation of the drive assembly causes a corresponding rotation of one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate connected thereto and a rotation of the other of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate through the at least one torque tube assembly,
wherein the drive assembly further comprises at least one motor having a driveshaft for providing a rotational input to the drive assembly and the driveshaft is operatively coupled to at least one gear set for transferring a torque input from the driveshaft of the motor to at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate,
and wherein the drive assembly is connected to at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate by a drive hub and a flexible ring disposed between the drive hub and at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate to compensate for any misalignment conditions between the drive assembly, the drive hub, and at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate and limit backlash between the drive hub and at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate.
12. The drive mechanism of claim 11, wherein the motor is a servo motor in communication with a feedback mechanism for determining an angular position of the driveshaft.
13. The drive mechanism of claim 11, further comprising a bearing assembly having a fixed inner race connected to the central column and a rotating outer race connected to at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate.
14. The drive mechanism of claim 11, wherein the at least one torque tube assembly is assembled from at least one hollow torque tube having a plurality of pins extending through at least a portion of a sidewall of the at least one hollow torque tube.
15. The drive mechanism of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of torque tube assemblies, wherein a tie rod extends through each of the plurality of torque assemblies, and wherein the tie rod is directly or indirectly coupled to the rotatable first drive plate at a first end and the at least one rotatable second drive plate at a second end.
16. A rotary carousel system for storing items on shelves comprising:
a stationary base for supporting one or more rotating components;
a central column fixed relative to the base, the central column having a central axis extending along a longitudinal length of the central column;
a rotatable first drive plate configured to rotate about the central axis;
at least one rotatable second drive plate configured to rotate about the central axis;
at least one tube assembly directly or indirectly coupled to the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate for torque transmission between the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate, the at least one torque tube
assembly operative for rotational movement with a rotation of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate;
a drive assembly operatively coupled to one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate, wherein, in use, the drive assembly causes at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate to rotate; and
at least one shelf connected to the at least one torque tube assembly, wherein rotation of one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate causes a corresponding rotation of the other of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate through the at least one torque tube assembly, and
wherein the drive assembly is connected to at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate by a drive hub and a flexible ring disposed between the drive hub and at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate plate to compensate for any misalignment conditions between the drive assembly, the drive hub, and at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate and limit backlash between the drive hub and at least one of the rotatable first drive plate and the at least one rotatable second drive plate.