An electronic circuit includes a group of devices which facilitate scan
testing of at least one part of the electronic circuit. Those devices
include a scan test device. The circuit further includes a state machine
which operates to transfer data from an input pin of the circuit which is
dedicated to the state machine to the devices relating to scan testing.
The state machine supports a plurality of data transfer protocols. The
choice of the protocol to be used is made as a function of a signal
received on the input pin. Responsive to an input pin signal, the state
machine enters an operational mode wherein scan test programming data is
serially received at the input pin and communicated to the devices which
facilitate scan testing. More specifically, the scan test programming
data is serially communicated to a scan test register, where the data is
output in parallel to the scan test device.