A system for preventing bus contention in a multifunction integrated
circuit under testing. The system is implemented in an integrated circuit
adapted to accept a series of test inputs operable for testing the
functionality of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes
at least one bus for communicatively coupling the multiple functional
blocks. At least a first functional block and a second functional block
included in the integrated circuit, the first functional block and the
second functional block both coupled to the bus and coupled to accept the
test inputs. An output enable controller is also included in the
integrated circuit. The output enable controller is coupled to the second
functional block and is operable to disable at least one output of the
second functional block if a corresponding output of the first functional
block is activated. This guarantees that the test inputs can propagate
through the first functional block and the second functional block without
causing contention for the bus between the first functional block and the
second functional block.