Fully Programmable Memory BIST for Commodity DRAMs

To accomplish a high‐speed test on low‐speed automatic test equipment (ATE), a new instruction‐based fully programmable memory built‐in self‐test (BIST) is proposed. The proposed memory BIST generates a high‐speed internal clock signal by multiplying an external low‐speed clock signal from an ATE by a clock multiplier embedded in a DRAM. For maximum programmability and small area overhead, the proposed memory BIST stores the unique sets of instructions and corresponding test sequences that are implicit within the test algorithms that it receives from an external ATE. The proposed memory BIST is managed by an external ATE on‐the‐fly to perform complicated and hard‐to‐implement functions, such as loop operations and refresh‐interrupts. Therefore, the proposed memory BIST has a simple hardware structure compared to conventional memory BIST schemes. The proposed memory BIST is a practical test solution for reducing the overall test cost for the mass production of commodity DDRx SDRAMs.     

TFT-LCD驱动控制芯片内置SRAM的自测试设计

针对单片集成TFT-LCD驱动控制芯片内置SRAM的特点,提出了一种将内建自测试与机台测试相结合的SRAM测试方案.测试向量由机台提供,测试过程中启动内部自测试电路.在SRAM的读出寄存器和写入寄存器之间建立一条通路,测试向量通过这条通路在SRAM单元之间传递,形成了一个长的移位链,读出数据送给比较器检测.与传统自测试结构相比,该方案面积开销小,灵活性高.     

Analysis of Hamming count compaction scheme

Advances in VLSI technology require changes in circuit test application methods or apparatus. The use of on-chip testing, called Built-in Testing or Built-in Self-Testing (BIST), has become popular. BIST techniques compact the output response of the circuit under test (CUT). Here we discuss a time compaction method called Hamming count (H-count). H-count encompasses all syndrome detectable faults. Simulation results and theoretical analysis illustrate the overall fault-detection potential of Hamming count. The proposed method presents simple and effective compaction technique.Since BIST methods use productive chip area, a prime concern is providing the test results using the minimal amount of space. Hardware overhead reduction through counter elimination is considered for the Hamming Count compaction test. Intelligent counter selection is necessary to minimize the impact this hardware reduction has on fault detection. A method for selecting the most advantageous syndrome and input variable counter combination to utilize as a reduced H-count test is introduced. Analysis shows that the proposed method produces an optimal pairing. The paired counters have an aliasing probability which is half an order less than that of an unmodified syndrome test with exhaustive inputs. Adaptations in the counter selection method are made using a greedy strategy for choosing multiple counters to combine with the syndrome counter.This work was funded in part by Sandia National Laboratory under contract SANDIA-27-6108.     

Built-in Self Test Based on Multiple On-Chip Signature Checking

We propose an improved BIST architecture which supports on-chip comparison of signatures at no significant increase in area. The proposed test architecture reduces detection latency and eliminates the lengthy scan-out phase from each test session by allowing testing and on-chip signature comparison of multiple intermediate signatures to occur concurrently. The work is based on a novel procedure to implement the multiple on-chip signature checking. We show that such a test method gives significant improvements in test application time and aliasing probability. This paper also presented two techniques to minimize the test area overhead with a very small test time overhead compare to the conventional schemes. These techniques resulted in up to 80% savings in test area overhead for some High-level synthesis benchmark circuits. This paper also presents an aliasing analysis of the proposed scheme.     

An IEEE 1149.1 Compliant Test Control Architecture

This paper deals with a design methodology and associated architecture to support the control of on-chip DFT and BIST hardware. The work is general in that it supports numerous test methods, such as partial and full scan, multiple and reconfigurable scan chains, and both test per clock BIST and scan BIST. The results presented here are compatible with the IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan architecture. The work is based on a hierarchical control methodology that includes systems, PCBs and MCMs. Various options for assigning control functions to be on-chip or off-chip are described. A new, partially distributed test control architecture is introduced that includes an internal test bus and distributed local controllers. There are three main modes of control of test resources, namely local static control, dynamic control and global static control. We show how the control mechanism can be implemented together with the IEEE 1149.1 test protocol. The synthesis of the on-chip test control hardware has been automated in a system called CONSYST.     

On High-Quality, Low Energy Built-In Self Test Preparation at RT-Level

Test power requirements for complex components are becoming stringent. The purpose of this paper is to reuse a recently proposed RT (Register Transfer) Level test preparation methodology to drive innovative Low-Energy (LE)/Low-Power (LP) BIST solutions for digital SoC (System on a Chip) embedded cores. RTL test generation is carried out through the definition of a reduced set of partially specified input vectors (masks), leading to a high correlation between multiple detection of RTL faults and single detection of likely physical defects. The methodology is referred as masked-based BIST, or m-BIST. BIST quality is evaluated considering three attributes: test effectiveness (TE), test length (TL) and test power (TP). LE BIST sessions are defined as short test sequences leading to high values of RT-level IFMB metrics and low-level Defects Coverage (DC). The energy and power of the BIST sessions, with and without mask forcing, is computed. It is shown that, by forcing vectors with the RTL masks, short BIST sessions, with low energy and with a comparable (or smaller) average power consumption, as compared to pseudo-random test, are derived. The usefulness of the methodology is ascertained using the VeriDOS simulation environment and modules of the CMUDSP and TORCH ITC'99 benchmark circuits.     

一种高速增益单元存储器的内建自测试方案

介绍了一种用于测试高速增益单元嵌入式动态随机存储器的内建自测试方案。该方案包括了指令集设计和体系结构设计。四级指令流水线的引入使全速测试成为可能。该设计方案可以通过执行不同的测试指令,对待测存储器执行多种类型的测试,从而达到较高的故障覆盖率。该内建自测试模块被集成在了一个存储容量为8kb的增益单元嵌入式动态随机存储器芯片中,并在中芯国际0.13μm标准逻辑工艺下进行了流片验证。芯片测试结果表明,该内建自测试方案可以在多种测试模式下对待测存储器执行全速测试,提高了测试速度,降低了对自动测试设备的性能要求,提高了测试的效率。     

On Using Twisted-Ring Counters for Test Set Embedding in BIST

We present a novel built-in self-test (BIST) architecture for high-performance circuits. The proposed approach is especially suitable for embedding precomputed test sets for core-based systems since it does not require a structural model of the circuit, either for fault simulation or for test generation. It utilizes a twisted-ring counter (TRC) for test-per-clock BIST and is appropriate for high-performance designs because it does not add any mapping logic to critical functional paths. Test patterns are generated on-chip by carefully reseeding the TRC. We show that a small number of seeds is adequate for generating test sequences that embed complete test sets for the ISCAS benchmark circuits.Instead of being stored on-chip, the seed patterns can also be scanned in using a low-cost, slower tester. The seeds can be viewed as an encoded version of the test set that is stored in tester memory. This requires almost 10X less memory than compacted test sets obtained from ATPG programs. This allows us to effectively combine high-quality BIST with external testing using slow testers. As the cost of high-speed testers increases, methodologies that facilitate testing using slow testers become especially important. The proposed approach is a step in that direction.     

内建自测试的测试生成方法研究

内建自测试（BIST）方法是目前可测试性设计（DFT）中应用前景最好的一种方法,其中测试生成是关系BIST性能好坏的一个重要方面。测试生成的目的在于生成尽可能少的测试向量并用以获得足够高的故障覆盖率,同时使得用于测试的硬件电路面积开销尽可能低、测试时间尽可能短。内建自测试的测试生成方法有多种,文中即对这些方法进行了简单介绍和对比研究,分析了各自的优缺点,并在此基础上探讨了BIST面临的主要问题及发展方向。     

Analysis of Test Application Time for Test Data Compression Methods Based on Compression Codes

We present an analysis of test application time for test data compression techniques that are used for reducing test data volume and testing time in system-on-a-chip (SOC) designs. These techniques are based on data compression codes and on-chip decompression. The compression/decompression scheme decreases test data volume and the amount of data that has to be transported from the tester to the SOC. We show via analysis as well as through experiments that the proposed scheme reduces testing time and allows the use of a slower tester. Results on test application time for the ISCAS'89 circuits are obtained using an ATE testbench developed in VHDL to emulate ATE functionality.     

A Low-Cost BIST Architecture for Linear Histogram Testing of ADCs

This paper investigates the viability of an ADC BIST scheme for implementing the histogram test technique. An original approach is developed to extract the ADC parameters from the histogram with a minimum area overhead. In particular, it is shown that the choice of a triangle-wave input signal combined with an appropriate time decomposition technique of the test procedure permits to drastically reduce the required on-chip hardware circuitry.     

Generation of Electrically Induced Stimuli for MEMS Self-Test

A major task for the implementation of Built-In-Self-Test (BIST) strategies for MEMS is the generation of the test stimuli. These devices can work in different energy domains and are thus designed to sense signals which are generally not electrical. In this work, we describe, for different types of MEMS, how the required non-electrical test stimuli can be induced on-chip by means of electrical signals. This provides the basis for adding BIST strategies for MEMS parts embedded in the coming generation of integrated systems. The on-chip test signal generation is illustrated for the case of MEMS transducers which exploit such physical principles as time-varying electrostatic capacitance, piezo-resistivity effect and Seebeck effect. These principles are used in devices such as accelerometers, infrared imagers, pressure sensors or tactile sensors. For implementation, we have used two major MEMS technologies including CMOS-compatible bulk micromachining and surface micromachining. We illustrate the ability to generate on-chip test stimuli and to implement a self-test strategy for the case of a complete application. This corresponds to an infrared imager that can be used in multiple applications such as overheating detection, night vision, and earth tracking for satellite positioning. The imager consists of an array of thermal pixels that sense an infrared radiation. Each pixel is implemented as a suspended membrane that contains several thermopiles along the different support arms. The on-chip test signal generation proposed requires only slight modifications and allows a production test of the imager with a standard test equipment, without the need of special infrared sources and the associated optical equipment. The test function can also be activated off-line in the field for validation and maintenance purposes.     

SoC嵌入式flash存储器的内建自测试设计

深亚微米技术背景下，嵌入式存储器在片上系统芯片(system-on-a-chip，SoC)中占有越来越多的芯片面积．嵌入式存储器的测试正面临诸多新的挑战。本文论述了两种适合SoC芯片中嵌入式flash存储器的内建自测试设计方案。详细讨论了专用硬件方式内建自测试的设计及其实现，并且提出了一种新型的软硬协同方式的内建自测试设计。这种新型的测试方案目标在于结合专用硬件方式内建自测试方案并有效利用SoC芯片上现有的资源，以保证满足测试过程中的功耗限制，同时在测试时间和芯片面积占用及性能之间寻求平衡。最后对两种方案的优缺点进行了分析对比。     

An ADC BIST with on-chip ramp generator

This work presents built-in self-test (BIST) techniques for the production testing of mixed signal circuits. The special test strategy for the typical mixed-signal component analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is discussed. The traditional test for such mixed-signal components can be completed through a DSP-based mixed-signal tester with an arbitrary waveform generator and a signal digitizer, but such a test is very costly and time consuming. Hence, a BIST strategy based on an on chip ramp generator (OCRG) is proposed in this work for testing ADC. This BIST method has an advantage testing ADC without DAC to overcome area overhead. This BIST method realizes the test controller, test pattern generation and output response analyser at the aspect of the on-chip circuitry. The demonstration of the proposed BIST is given through various simulation results in the last parts of this work.     

Hardware Generation of Random Single Input Change Test Sequences

The combination of higher quality requirements and sensitivity of high performance circuits to delay defects has led to an increasing emphasis on delay testing of VLSI circuits. As delay testing using external testers requires expensive ATE, built-in self test (BIST) is an alternative technique that can significantly reduce the test cost.It has been proven that Single Input Change (SIC) test sequences are more effective than classical Multiple Input Change (MIC) test sequences when a high robust delay fault coverage is targeted. It has also been shown that random SIC (RSIC) test sequences achieve a higher fault coverage than random MIC (RMIC) test sequences when both robust and non robust tests are under consideration; the experimental results were based on a software generation of RSIC sequences that are easily generated.Obviously, a hardware RSIC generation providing similar results can be obtained. However, this hardware generator must be carefully designed. In this paper, it is explained what are the criteria which must be satisfied for this purpose. A solution is proposed and illustrated with an example. Then, it is shown that a bad result may be obtained if one of these criteria is not satisfied.     

Test-Per-Clock Logic BIST with Semi-Deterministic Test Patterns and Zero-Aliasing Compactor

We present a test-per-clock BIST scheme using memory for storing test patterns that reduces the number of clock cycle necessary for testing. Thus, the test application time is shorter and energy consumption is lower than those in other solutions. The test hardware consists of a space compactor and a MISR, which provides zero error aliasing for modeled faults. The test pattern generator (TPG) scheme is based on a T-type flip-flop feedback shift register. The generator can be seeded similarly to a D-type flip-flop shift register. It generates test patterns in a test-per-clock mode. The TPG pattern sequence is modified at regular intervals by adding a modulo-2 bit from a modification sequence, which is stored in a memory. The memory can be either a ROM on the chip or a memory in the tester. The test patterns have both random and deterministic properties, which are advantageous for the final quality of the resulting test sequence. The number of bits stored in the memory, number of clock cycles, hardware overhead and the parameters of the resulting zero aliasing space compactor and MISR are given for the ISCAS benchmark circuits. The experiments demonstrate that the BIST scheme provides shorter test sequences than other methods while the hardware overhead and memory requirements are kept low.     

SOC芯片的高速模拟IP测试方法学

很多SoC芯片里会使用SATA物理层,PCIE物理层以及DDR2/DDR3物理层等高速模拟IP。这些高速模拟IP需要被自动测试设备完整的测试。自动测试设备的高速测试选项就是用来测试高速IP,但随之而来的是测试成本的增加。智原科技利用内建自测试方法来取代费钱的自动测试设备的高速测试选项。内建自测试提供了最具成本效率的方法。高速模拟IP内建自测试的故障覆盖率很高,所以我们不再需要自动测试设备的高速测试选项及其所带来的高成本。     

Deterministic Built-in Pattern Generation for Sequential Circuits

We present a new pattern generation approach for deterministic built-in self testing (BIST) of sequential circuits. Our approach is based on precomputed test sequences, and is especially suited to sequential circuits that contain a large number of flip-flops but relatively few controllable primary inputs. Such circuits, often encountered as embedded cores and as filters for digital signal processing, are difficult to test and require long test sequences. We show that statistical encoding of precomputed test sequences can be combined with low-cost pattern decoding to provide deterministic BIST with practical levels of overhead. Optimal Huffman codes and near-optimal Comma codes are especially useful for test set encoding. This approach exploits recent advances in automatic test pattern generation for sequential circuits and, unlike other BIST schemes, does not require access to a gate-level model of the circuit under test. It can be easily automated and integrated with design automation tools. Experimental results for the ISCAS 89 benchmark circuits show that the proposed method provides higher fault coverage than pseudorandom testing with shorter test application time and low to moderate hardware overhead.     

LI-BIST: A Low-Cost Self-Test Scheme for SoC Logic Cores and Interconnects

For system-on-chips (SoC) using deep submicron (DSM) technologies, interconnects are becoming critical determinants for performance, reliability and power. Buses and long interconnects being susceptible to crosstalk noise, may lead to functional and timing failures. Existing at-speed interconnect crosstalk test methods propose inserting dedicated interconnect self-test structures in the SoC to generate vectors which have high crosstalk defect coverage. However, these methods may have a prohibitively high area overhead. To reduce this overhead, existing logic BIST structures like LFSRs could be reused to deliver interconnect tests. But, as shown by our experiments, use of LFSR tests achieve poor crosstalk defect coverage. Additionally, it has been shown that the power consumed during testing can potentially become a significant concern.In this paper, we present Logic-Interconnect BIST (LI-BIST), a comprehensive self-test solution for both the logic of the cores and the SoC interconnects. LI-BIST reuses existing logic BIST structures but generates high-quality tests for interconnect crosstalk defects, while minimizing the area overhead and interconnect power consumption. The application of the LI-BIST methodology on example SoCs indicates that LI-BIST is a viable, low-cost, yet comprehensive solution for testing SoCs.