On-Chip Clock Faults' Detector

This paper proposes an on-chip detector for the on-line testing of faults affecting clock signals and making them change with incorrect duty-cycle. Our scheme is particularly suitable to be integrated within Systems-On-a-Chip (SOCs), in order to avoid their possible incorrect operation because of faults affecting clock signals, thus solving their extreme criticality in clock faults' testing. In particular, our detector is suitable to be applied to clock signals within each SOC digital core, to the clock signals at the interface between the diverse cores, as well as to those driving the DFT and BIST structures used to perform the SOC test. Our scheme features self-checking ability with respect to its possible internal faults belonging to a realistic set including stuck-ats, transistor stuck-ons, stuck-opens and resistive bridgings.     

Refresh re-use based transparent test for detection of in-field permanent faults in DRAMs

In this paper, a transparent test technique for testing permanent faults developed during field operation of DRAMs has been proposed. A three pronged approach has been taken in this work. First, a word oriented transparent March test generation algorithm has been proposed that avoids signature based prediction phase; next the proposed transparent March test is structured in a way that facilitates its implementation during refresh cycles of the DRAM; finally the on-chip refresh circuit is modified to allow its re-use during implementation of the proposed transparent March test on DRAM. Re-use of refresh cycles for test purpose ensures periodic testing of DRAM without interruption. Thus, faults are not allowed to accumulate. Moreover, wait for idle cycles of the processor to perform the test are avoided and test finishes within a definite time. Re-using the refresh circuit for test purpose overcomes requirement of additional Design-For-Testability hardware and brings down the area overhead.Both analytic predictions and simulation results for the method proposed here indicate real estate benefits and test time savings in comparison to other reported techniques. The proposed refresh re-use based transparent test technique provides a cost effective solution by providing facility for periodic tests of DRAM without requiring additional test hardware.     

On the generation of test patterns for multiple faults

This article presents a new method to generate test patterns for multiple stuck-at faults in combinational circuits. We assume the presence of all multiple faults of all multiplicities and we do not resort to their explicit enumeration: the target fault is a single component of possibly several multiple faults. New line and gate models are introduced to handle multiple fault effect propagation through the circuits. The method tries to generate test conditions that propagate the effect of the target fault to primary outputs. When these conditions are fulfilled, the input vector is a test for the target fault and it is guaranteed that all multiple faults of all multiplicities containing the target fault as component are also detected. The method uses similar techniques to those in FAN and SOCRATES algorithms to guide the search part of the algorithm, and includes several new heuristics to enhance the performance and fault detection capability. Experiments performed on the ISCAS'85 benchmark circuits show that test sets for multiple faults can be generated with high fault coverage and a reasonable increase in cost over test generation for single stuck-at faults.     

Efficient March Tests for a Reduced 3-Coupling and 4-Coupling Faults in Random-Access Memories

This paper presents two new march test algorithms, MT-R3CF and MT-R4CF, for detecting reduced 3-coupling and 4-coupling faults, respectively, in n × 1 random-access memories (RAMs). To reduce the length of the tests, only the coupling faults between physically adjacent memory cells have been considered. The tests assume that the storage cells are arranged in a rectangular grid and that the mapping from logical addresses to physical cell locations is known completely. The march tests need 30n and 41n operations, respectively. In this paper any memory fault is modelled by a set of primitive memory faults called simple faults. We prove, using an Eulerian graph model, the ability of the test algorithms to detect all simple coupling faults. This paper also includes a study regarding the ability of the test MT-R3CF to detect interacting linked 3-coupling faults. This work improves the results presented in [1] where a similar model of reduced 3-coupling faults has been considered and a march test with 38n operations has been proposed. To compare these new march tests with other published tests, simulation results are presented in this paper.     

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.     

组合电路桥接故障诊断的测试生成及优化

在利用划分等价类的方法来诊断组合电路中桥接故障的基础上,本文提出了一种基于门特性的IDDQ测试集生成算法及对测试集排序筛选的优化方法.实验结果表明,将此方法应用于组合电路桥接故障的诊断可缩减测试集的大小,提高诊断的故障覆盖率.     

A switch-level test generation system for synchronous and asynchronous circuits

A switch-level test generation system for synchronous and asynchronous circuits has been developed in which a new algorithm for fully automatic switch-level test generation and an existing fault simulator have been integrated. For test generation, a switch-level circuit is modeled as a logic network that correctly models the behavior of the switch-level including bidirectionality, dynamic charge storage, and ratioed logic. The algorithm is able to generate tests for combinational and sequential circuits. BothnMOS and CMOS circuits can be modeled. In addition to the classical line stuck-at faults, the algorithm is able to handle stuck-open and stuck-closed faults on the transistors of the circuit.In synchronous circuits, the time-frame based algorithm uses asynchronous processing within each clock phase to achieve stability in the circuit and synchronous processing between clock phases to model the passage of time. In asynchronous circuits, the algorithm uses asynchronous processing to reach stability within and between modules. Unlike earlier time-frame based test generators for general sequential circuits, the test generator presented uses the monotonicity of the logic network to speed up the search for a solution. Results on benchmark circuits show that the test generator outperforms an existing switch-level test generator both in time and space requirements. The algorithm is adaptable to mixed-level test generation.     

SOC测试结构优化研究

结合SOC测试结构的特点,采用量子进化算法对SOC测试结构进行优化.通过对量子进化算法中群体尺寸、旋转角度的合适设定,达到减少SOC测试所用时间的目的.针对国际SOC标准电路验证表明,与同类算法相比,该算法能够获得较短的测试时间.     

Diagnostic Data Compression Techniques for Embedded Memories with Built-In Self-Test

A system-on-chip (SOC) usually consists of many memory cores with different sizes and functionality, and they typically represent a significant portion of the SOC and therefore dominate its yield. Diagnostics for yield enhancement of the memory cores thus is a very important issue. In this paper we present two data compression techniques that can be used to speed up the transmission of diagnostic data from the embedded RAM built-in self-test (BIST) circuit that has diagnostic support to the external tester. The proposed syndrome-accumulation approach compresses the faulty-cell address and March syndrome to about 28% of the original size on average under the March-17N diagnostic test algorithm. The key component of the compressor is a novel syndrome-accumulation circuit, which can be realized by a content-addressable memory. Experimental results show that the area overhead is about 0.9% for a 1Mb SRAM with 164 faults. A tree-based compression technique for word-oriented memories is also presented. By using a simplified Huffman coding scheme and partitioning each 256-bit Hamming syndrome into fixed-size symbols, the average compression ratio (size of original data to that of compressed data) is about 10, assuming 16-bit symbols. Also, the additional hardware to implement the tree-based compressor is very small. The proposed compression techniques effectively reduce the memory diagnosis time as well as the tester storage requirement.     

Optimization-based multifrequency test generation for analog circuits

A robust test set for analog circuits has to detect faults under maximal masking effects due to variations of circuit parameters in their tolerance box. In this paper we propose an optimization based multifrequency test generation method for detecting parametric faults in linear analog circuits. Given a set of performances and a frequency range, our approach selects the test frequencies that maximize the observability on a circuit performance of a parameter deviation under the worst masking effects of normal variations of the other parameters. Experimental results are provided and validated by HSpice simulations to illustrate the proposed approach.     

一种基于微处理器的SOC自测试方案

提出了一种基于片上微处理器和透明路径测试访问的SOC自测试方案。以片上微处理器为测试加载和响应收集比较的主体,构造透明路径并行传输测试数据,以嵌入程序控制测试过程。可以在提高测试速度的同时,降低对测试设备性能的依赖,并可以进行全速测试,所需额外面积开销较小。实验表明,该测试方案是有效的。     

A neural network algorithm for testing stuck-open faults in CMOS combinational circuits

In this article, an automatic test pattern generation technique using neural network models for stuck-open faults in CMOS combinational circuits is presented. For a gate level fault model of stuck-open faults in CMOS circuits, SR(slow-rise) and SF(slow-fall) gate transition faults we develop a neural network representation. A neural network computation technique for generating robust test patterns for stuck-open faults is given. The main result is extending previous efforts in stuck-at test pattern generation to stuck-open test pattern generation using neural network models. A second result is an extension of the technique to robust test pattern generation.     

一种高效的混合Test-Per-Clock测试方法

该文提出了一种基于内建自测试(BIST)的Test-Per-Clock混合模式向量产生方法。测试由两个部分组成：自由线性反馈移位寄存器(LFSR)伪随机测试模式和受控LFSR确定型测试模式。伪随机测试模式用于快速地检测伪随机易测故障,减少确定型数据存储。受控LFSR测试模式采用直接存储在ROM中的控制位流对剩余故障产生确定型测试。通过对提出的BIST混合模式测试结构理论分析,提出了伪随机向量的选取方法以及基于受控线性移位确定型测试生成方法。基准电路的仿真结果表明,该方法可以获得完全单固定型故障覆盖率,其测试产生器设计简单且具有良好的稳定性,与其他方法相比,具有较低的测试开销和较短的测试应用时间。     

片上集成电路系统测试的新电路设计

It is very important to detect transition-delay faults and stuck-at faults in system on chip （SoC） under 90 nm processing technology, and the transition-delay faults can only be detected by using an at-speed testing method. In this paper, an on-chip clock （OCC） controller with a bypass function based on an internal phase-locked loop is designed to test faults in SoC. Furthermore, a clock chain logic which can eliminate the metastable state is realized to generate an enable signal for the OCC controller, and then, the test pattern is generated by automatic test pattern generation （ATPG） tools. Next, the scan test pattern is simulated by using the Synopsys tool and the correctness of the design is verified. The result shows that the design of an at-speed scan test in this paper is highly efficient for detecting timing-related defects. Finally, the 89.29% transition-delay fault coverage and the 94.50% stuck-at fault coverage are achieved, and it is successfully applied to an integrated circuit design.     

Functional Fault Equivalence and Diagnostic Test Generation in Combinational Logic Circuits Using Conventional ATPG

Fault equivalence is an essential concept in digital design with significance in fault diagnosis, diagnostic test generation, testability analysis and logic synthesis. In this paper, an efficient algorithm to check whether two faults are equivalent is presented. If they are not equivalent, the algorithm returns a test vector that distinguishes them. The proposed approach is complete since for every pair of faults it either proves equivalence or it returns a distinguishing vector. The advantage of the approach lies in its practicality since it uses conventional ATPG and it automatically benefits from advances in the field. Experiments on ISCAS’85 and full-scan ISCAS’89 circuits demonstrate the competitiveness of the method and measure the performance of simulation for fault equivalence.     

On Concurrent Test of Core-Based SOC Design

In this paper, a method to solve the resource allocation and test scheduling problems together in order to achieve concurrent test for core-based System-On-Chip (SOC) designs is presented. The primary objective for concurrent SOC test is to reduce test application time under the constraints of SOC pins and peak power consumption. The methodology used in this paper is not limited to any specific Test Access Mechanism (TAM). Additionally, it can also be applied to SOC budgeting at design phase to predict a tradeoff between test application time and SOC pins needed. The contribution of this paper is the formulation of the problem as a well-known 2-dimensional bin-packing problem. A best-fit heuristic algorithm is adopted to achieve optimal solution.     

A New Method for Testing Re-Programmable PLAs

We present a method for obtaining a minimal set of test configurations and their associated set of test patterns that completely tests re-programmable Programmable Logic Arrays (PLAs) including EEPROM, UV-EPROM, and SRAM based re-programmable PLAs typically found in Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs). The resultant set of test configurations and vectors detect all single and multiple stuck-at faults (including line and transistor faults) as well as all bridging faults in the PLA. Previously proposed test methods proposed for EEPROM based PLAs (IEEE Trans. on CAD, Vol. 13, No. 7, pp.935–939, 1994;Proc. IEEE International Symposium on Defect and Fault Tolerance in VLSI Systems, 1998, pp. 146–154) require additional test hardware as well as a large number of test configurations and vectors for complete testing. Our approach requires no modification to the PLA and only two or four test configurations, depending on the ratio of PLA product terms to inputs.     

一种Mbist新型算法March 3CL的设计

制造工艺的不断进步,嵌入式存储器在片上系统芯片中的集成度越来越大,同时存储器本身也变得愈加复杂,使得存储器出现了一系列新的故障类型,比如三单元耦合故障.存储器內建自测试技术是当今存储器测试的主流方法,研究高效率的Mbist算法,是提高芯片成品率的必要前提.以SRAM的7种三单元耦合故障为研究对象,通过分析故障行为得到三单元耦合的72种故障原语,并且分析了地址字内耦合故障的行为,进而提出新的测试算法March 3CL.以2048X32的SRAM为待测存储器,利用EDA工具进行了算法的仿真,仿真结果表明,该算法具有故障覆盖率高、时间复杂度低等优点.     

Test, diagnosis and fault simulation of embedded RAM modules in SRAM-based FPGAs

This paper presents a unique scheme for testing and locating multiple stuck at faults in the embedded RAM modules of SRAM-based FPGAs. The RAM modules are tested using the MATS++ algorithm. The interconnection scheme makes it possible to test all the cells within the RAM modules in the FPGA in just one test configuration. We also develop a diagnosis scheme capable of locating the faulty RAM cells and the CLB in which it is located. In this research, emphasis is also laid on reducing the testing time, which is achieved by partitioning the FPGA into two halves.