5.2 Four-Wire JTAG Details

The Four-Wire interface uses standard JTAG (IEEE® 1149.1-2001) interface signals.
  • Test Clock (TCK) – Drives data in/out
  • Test Mode Select (TMS) – Selects operational mode
  • Test Data Input (TDI) – Data into the device
  • Test Data Output (TDO) – Data out of the device

Since only one data line is available, the protocol is necessarily serial, similar to Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI). The clock input occurs at the TCK pin. Configuration is performed by manipulating a state machine bit by bit through the TMS pin. One bit of data is transferred in and out per TCK clock pulse at the TDI and TDO pins. Different instruction modes can be loaded to read the chip ID or manipulate chip functions.

Data presented to TDI must be valid for a chip-specific setup time before, and hold time, after the rising edge of the TCK. TDO data is valid for a chip-specific time after the falling edge of TCK, see Figure 5-3.
Figure 5-3. Four-Wire JTAG Interface