Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/106,244

TECHNIQUES FOR INFIELD TESTING OF CRYPTOGRAPHIC CIRCUITRY

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Feb 06, 2023
Examiner
KERVEROS, DEMETRIOS C
Art Unit
2111
Tech Center
2100 — Computer Architecture & Software
Assignee
Altera Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 7m
To Grant
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allow Rate
933 granted / 1069 resolved
+32.3% vs TC avg
Minimal +3% lift
Without
With
+2.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
1099
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.9%
-36.1% vs TC avg
§103
8.4%
-31.6% vs TC avg
§102
50.1%
+10.1% vs TC avg
§112
27.6%
-12.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1069 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. This is a NON-FINAL OFFICE ACTION in response to the present Application filed 02/06/2023. Claims 1-20 are pending in the Application, of which Claims 1, 11 and 14 are independent. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 02/06/2023 and 05/02/2023 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the IDS has been considered by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis ( i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale , or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Motika et al. (Pub. No. US 20140006889) Pub. Date: 2014-01-02. Regarding independent Claims 1, 11 and 14, Motika discloses a design-for-test that automatically detects multiple unstable signatures and associated instability in the source channels, comprising: a linear-feedback shift register (LFSR); FIG. 1, [0027] Step 105 shows a diagram for LFSR 115 pseudo-random stimuli generator and associated shadow register 110. One or more LFSRs 110, 115 can be configured as inputs for the logic being tested. a register “MISR” configured to store data generated by cryptographic circuitry on a die; [0028] Step 125 depicts a MISR similar to the LFSR with additional inputs to the XOR between the MISR latches. The associated `shadow` register is depicted in Step 110. This enables a response compression into a digital signature of length equal to the number of MISR latches. cause the LFSR to generate, over a plurality of clock cycles, a random pattern that is to be inputted to the cryptographic circuitry; and provide, to the register, output data generated by the cryptographic circuitry during the plurality of clock cycles; FIG. 1, [0026] Step 100 represents the logic tested by the surrounding built-in test support with stimuli generated by the Pseudo-Random Pattern Generator 105 and the responses compressed into the Response Compression Signature Generator 107. The clocking to the logic is shown to be provided by the BIST sequencing engine 130. Input stimuli to the logic are advantageously generated by the LFSR 115, while the responses are compressed into the MISR 125. compare the output data in the register to a signature that is based on expected data to be output from the cryptographic circuitry; [0032] Signature comparator 140 provides a serial comparison between the current MISR signature and the previous equivalent test interval signature stored in the MISR shadow register. Matching signatures indicate that the test interval produces a stable response. p rovide an indication of whether the cryptographic circuitry passes or fails an infield test scan. FIG. 4, [0055] Step 460--A non-zero XOR result is indicative of signature instability and the need to determine a mask. A result of zero from the XOR operation indicates a repeated signature. The number of test executions is compared to the preset value "m". Regarding Claims 2, 3, 12,13, 15, 16, Motika discloses the LFSR to generate the random pattern based on the control logic providing a seed value to initiate the random pattern, wherein the signature is determined based on the seed value, a number of clock cycles, and a cryptographic algorithm. [0023] Referring to FIG. 1, an LFSR is provided with an added "shadow" also referred to as a "save and restore" LFSR that stores an initial seed , consisting "0" and "1" bits. The seed can be reloaded into the LFSR at the start of each test interval. [0005] There are many compression and signature generation methods and algorithms . A common approach in communications and testing in generating signatures is the use of a Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR) with XOR inputs to alter the LFSR state machine sequence depending on the input data. Regarding Claims 4 , 17, Motika discloses the start indicator is received from a microcontroller of the die, to assert a bit in the second register to provide the start indicator. [0033] The BIST sequential engine 130 controls the setup and execution of one or more test intervals. It loads all the LFSR and MISR initial seeds and feedback configurations, sequences the number of test cycles for each test interval and compares the signatures at the end of the intervals. [0035] Both, the MISR and the shadow registers can also be individually loaded during initial setup and unloaded via the serial shift ports. Regarding Claims 5, 6, 18 -20 , Motika discloses information to indicate whether the cryptographic circuitry passes or fails the infield test scan, a nd to provide the indication of whether the cryptographic circuitry passes or fails the infield test scan , via a message or interrupt to be sent to a microcontroller of the die. FIG. 4, illustrates an initial check for signature instability. [0054] Step 450--The XOR result is compared with zero. [0055] Step 460--A non-zero XOR result is indicative of signature instability “ cryptographic circuitry fails ” and the need to determine a mask. A result of zero from the XOR operation indicates a repeated signature “ cryptographic circuitry passes ” . The number of test executions is compared to the preset value "m". [0056] Step 480--If the test has executed fewer than "m" times, it is run again for a stable signature check 470. [0057] Step 490--If after "m" user-specified iterations, the XOR result is always "0", it may be assumed that there is no instability, and hence no need for a MISR mask. Regarding Claim 7 , Motika discloses the register comprises a multiple input signature register (MISR). FIG. 1, MISR 125 . Regarding Claim s 8 , 9, Motika discloses send a request to receive a clock signal from a phase-locked loop (PLL); and responsive to receipt of a grant to receive the clock signal, cause the LFSR to generate, over the plurality of clock cycles, the random pattern using the clock signal. [0071] Still referring to FIG. 6, the LBIST control or sequencing engine 614 with an associated Phase Lock Loop (PLL) 612 and On-Product-Clock-Generation (OPCG) 613 is illustrated. LBIST stimuli are provided by the LFSR 610 and `shadow` register 600, while the responses are compressed into the MISR 650, associated shadow register 645 and mask register 640. A serial signature comparator is shown by XOR Step 655. Regarding Claim 10 , Motika discloses the die is included in a multi-die system to be configured as a processor. [0012] A further embodiment provides a method of detecting unstable signatures when testing a Very-large-scale integration VLSI chip, corresponding to a processor . Prior Art References Cited The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See References Cited on PTO-892 form . Dubrova; Elena et al. (US 20160349314) [0049] LBIST module 102, which is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2, comprises a PRPG 201, which may be based on a Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR), for generating pseudo-random test patterns which during testing are applied to CUT 101 via test inputs 111. LBIST module 102 further comprises an MISR 203 for compacting test responses received from CUT 101 via test outputs 112, commonly referred to as “stump data”, into a test signature, and a decision logic 204 for comparing the test signature obtained from MISR 203 to an expected signature which is stored 205 or hard-wired 205 in LBIST module 102. The result of this comparison is made available by means of a signal 115 indicating the test result to an external circuit, e.g., a fault supervision unit provided together with IC 100. Gangasani; Swathi et al.( US 20100218059) [0021] Field test using logic BIST is commonly employed in safety critical applications. Logic BIST is implemented using LFSRs as pseudo-random pattern generators (PRPG) and a multiple input signature register (MISR) as response compactors. LFSR techniques suffer from low coverage due to pseudo-random patterns. To improve the coverage obtained by traditional LFSR based BIST, re-seeding techniques are used wherein the LFSR is periodically seeded (initialized) to generate a new set of patterns. Re-seeding is effective to obtain high coverage, similar to that obtained using deterministic patterns obtained using ATPG (automatic test pattern generation) techniques. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT JAMES C KERVEROS whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-3824 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT 9-5 . Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT MARK FEATHERSTONE can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT (571) 270-3750 . The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /JAMES C KERVEROS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2111 Date: DATE \@ "MMMM d, yyyy" March 20, 2026 FILENAME \* MERGEFORMAT Non-Final Rejection 20260318 JAMES C. KERVEROS Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2111 James.Kerveros@USPTO.GOV
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 06, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 11, 2023
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 19, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
87%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+2.6%)
2y 7m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1069 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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