Stmicroelectronics International N.v.

Stmicroelectronics Pvt. Ltd.

Shalini Pathak

Sandeep Jain

Parvesh Swami

Prateek Singh

Pooja Jain

According to an embodiment, a method for testing using scan chains, without an independent scan enable pin, is proposed. The method includes selectively indicating a capture phase and a load/unload phase for the scan chain based on an encoding of a scan enable signal in an expected signal and a masking signal; loading test parameters to the scan chain during the load/unload phase; operating the scan chain under functional mode during the capture phase; and generating an error signal based on comparing an output of the scan chain during an unload phase with the expected signal, wherein the masking signal is used to mask the output of the scan chain for cycles with invalid results.

Low pin count scan with no dedicated scan enable pin

According to an embodiment, a first aspect relates to a method for testing a scan chain. The method includes segmenting the scan chain into two or more segments; adding a respective multiplexer at end points of each segment, wherein each pair of sequential segment shares a common multiplexer in between; asserting a select signal at a select terminal of the multiplexers such that a relative position of the two or more segments is rearranged positionally in a rearranged scan chain; generating a test pattern to be communicated to an input terminal of the rearranged scan chain and observing a test result at an output of the rearranged scan chain; and determining a fault condition in the rearranged scan chain based on comparing the test result and an expected result.

Partial chain reconfiguration for test time reduction

In accordance with an embodiment, a method for operating a Pseudo-Random Pattern Generator (PRPG) based scan test system includes: generating test patterns using a Pseudo-Random Pattern Generator (PRPG), generating the test patterns including clocking the PRPG using a first clock signal; loading the test patterns into a plurality of scan chains coupled to the PRPG; modifying a bit distribution of the generated test patterns with respect to the plurality of scan chains by freezing at least one clock cycle of the first clock signal while a second clock signal is active or freezing at least one clock cycle of the second clock signal while the first clock signal is active; shifting the loaded test patterns using the second clock signal; applying the test patterns to a circuit under test (CUT) through the plurality of scan chains; and capturing response patterns generated by the CUT in the plurality of scan chains.

Compression-based scan test system

An integrated circuit improves scan testing efficiency by addressing slow Scan-OUT pins. The integrated circuit shifts data through high-frequency Scan-OUT pins every cycle and through low-frequency Scan-OUT pins every other cycle. Data that cannot be shifted through low-frequency pins is stored in an accumulator and later shifted out through high-frequency pins. Despite changing the scan-out data pattern, the tester used for testing the integrated circuit anticipates the resulting pattern, providing for the testing to not be negatively impacted.

Test-time optimization with few slow scan pads

A method for testing a chip comprising receiving N scan-in chains of test data; using the N scan-in chains of test data to perform tests on the chip; receiving a merged expected test-result and masking-instruction signal on X pins of the chip from the off-chip test equipment, X being less than 2*N; decoding the merged expected test-result and masking-instruction signal to extract N decoded output signals, each of the N decoded output signals corresponding to a respective chain of test results.

Scan compression through pin data encoding

A method for testing a chip comprising: receiving N scan-in chains of test data; using the N scan-in chains of test data to perform tests on the chip; receiving a merged expected test-result and masking-instruction signal on X pins of the chip from the off-chip test equipment, X being less than 2*N; decoding the merged expected test-result and masking-instruction signal to extract N decoded output signals, each of the N decoded output signals corresponding to a respective chain of test results.

A programmable logic device (PLD) has the ability to test the configuration memory either independently or during configuration. The PLD may include a selector for selecting a particular column or row of the configuration memory array, and an input data storage device for storing configuration data required to be stored in the selected column or row, or test data for testing the selected column or row. The PLD may also include an output data storage device for storing the output from the selected column or row, and test logic that provides control signals for verifying the correct operation of the data lines of the configuration memory array without disturbing the data stored in the memory array.

Growing community of inventors

Haryana, India

Shalini Pathak