US 12,314,451 B2
Selective communication interfaces for programmable parts
Benjamin Goska, Portland, OR (US); Ryan Albright, Beaverton, OR (US); William Andrew Mecham, Elk Grove, CA (US); William Ryan Weese, Portland, OR (US); Aaron Richard Carkin, Hillsboro, OR (US); and Michael Thompson, Wilsonville, OR (US)
Assigned to Nvidia Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US)
Filed by Nvidia Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/581,579.
Prior Publication US 2023/0237201 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. G06F 21/70 (2013.01)
CPC G06F 21/70 (2013.01) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB); and
a ball grid array (BGA) package installed on the PCB, the BGA package comprising:
a programmable part; and
a communication interface, comprising a pad, that provides programmable access to the programmable part to update firmware of the programmable part after installation on the PCB, the communication interface to transmit to the programmable part at least one of: a signal or power;
wherein the programmable part comprises:
a first communication pathway along a top side of the programmable part and directly underneath the pad;
a second communication pathway along a bottom side of the programmable part that is connected to a set of balls of a BGA; and
a communication interrupt comprising a path having a first end coupled to the first communication pathway, a second end coupled to the second communication pathway, and a fuse located between the first end and the second end, the communication interface to be selectively disabled by the communication interrupt based on at least one of: a status of the programmable part, or an input security signal.