Synopsys, Inc.

Suryanarayana Duggirala

Rohit Kapur

Thomas W Williams

Emil I Gizdarski

Frederic J Neuveux

Nodari Sitchinava

Samitha Samaranayake

Fadi Maamari

Basim Mohammed Issa Shanyour

Mahilchi Milir Vaseekar Kumar

Apik A Zorian

Cyrus Hay

Harihara Ganesan

A first set of features may be extracted from a first integrated circuit (IC) design. A trained machine learning (ML) model may predict a set of ranked test-case configurations for the first IC design based on the first set of features. A test-case configuration may correspond to a count of scan chain input and output ports and a scan chain length value.

Machine-learning-based design-for-test (DFT) recommendation system for improving automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) quality of results (QoR)

Training data may be collected based on a set of test-case configurations for each integrated circuit (IC) design in a set of IC designs. The training data may include a set of features extracted from each IC design, and a count of test cycles required for achieving a target test coverage for each test-case configuration. A machine learning (ML) model may be trained using the training data to obtain a trained ML model. The trained ML model may be used to predict a set of ranked test-case configurations for a given IC design based on features extracted from the given IC design.

Machine-learning-based design-for-test (DFT) recommendation system for improving automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) quality of results (QOR)

A low overhead dynamically reconfigurable shared scan-in test architecture is provided. This test architecture advantageously allows for changing scan inputs during the scan operation on a per shift basis. The flexibility of reconfiguring the scan input to scan chain mapping every shift cycle can advantageously reduce both test data volume and test application time.

Dynamically reconfigurable shared scan-in test architecture

A process and system for placement planning for test mode circuitry of an integrated circuit design. The novel method includes the steps of partitioning a scan chain of a netlist into sets of re-orderable scan cells. The netlist is passed to layout processes and therein the scan cells of the scan chain are re-ordered based on the sets. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the scan-chain is partitioned into a number of different sets based the respective clock domains, edge sensitivity types, skew tolerance levels, surrounding cone logic, reconfigurability and simultaneous output switching requirements of the scan cells. Data representative of the resulting sets are then provided to the place-and-route processes to be used as re-ordering limitations. Particularly, the re-ordering limitations restrict the rearrangement of scan cells among different sets. The placement and routing processes, however, are not restricted from rearranging the order of scan cells within the same set. The present invention thereby allows a better designed integrated circuit to be designed and fabricated.

System and method for high-level test planning for layout

A process and system for placement planning for test mode circuitry of an integrated circuit design. The novel method includes the steps of partitioning a scan chain of a netlist into sets of re-orderable scan cells. The netlist is passed to layout processes and therein the scan cells of the scan chain are re-ordered based on the sets. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the scan-chain is partitioned into a number of different sets based the respective clock domains, edge sensitivity types skew tolerance levels, surrounding cone logic, reconfigurability and simultaneous output switching requirements of the scan cells. Data representative of the resulting sets are then provided to the place-and-route processes to be used as re-ordering limitations. Particularly, the re-ordering limitations restrict the rearrangement of scan cells among different sets. The placement and routing processes, however, are not restricted from rearranging the order of scan cells within the same set. The present invention thereby allows a better designed integrated circuit to be designed and fabricated.

A computer implemented method of constructing a scan chain. According to the present invention, scan cells are inserted into a netlist description of an integrated circuit design and are coupled serially together to form a scan chain. The resulting netlist is then passed to layout processes where the cells of the integrated circuit design are automatically placed and routed. The layout processes are performed without regard to any predetermined constraints designating any particular functional pins of the netlist design as scan-in or scan-out ports for the scan chain. After the cells are placed, a first functional pin is selected as the scan-in port and a second functional pin is selected as the scan-out port according to cell placement information. In particular, the functional pin that is closest to the leading scan cell is selected as the scan-in port. The functional pin that is closest to the last scan cell is selected as the scan-out port for the scan chain. Scan-in functionalities are then added to the first functional pin and scan-out functionalities are added to the second functional pin. The present invention thereby improves cell placement and wire routability, and allows a better integrated circuit to be designed and fabricated.

Method for placement-based scan-in and scan-out ports selection

A method and system for generating test vectors for testing scan-based sequential circuits that contain non-scan cells using combinational ATPG techniques. The present invention includes the computer implemented step of receiving a netlist description of an integrated circuit device that comprises scan cells and non-scannable cells. Under certain conditions, some non-scan cells may exhibit sequential transparency behavior. The present invention identifies such conditions and characterizes each non-scan cell as sequentially transparent or non-transparent. Based on such characterization, the present invention transforms non-scan cells exhibiting sequential transparency behavior with transparent logic models during combinational ATPG (Automatic Test Pattern Generation) analysis. Because non-scan cells of exhibiting sequential transparency behavior are not replaced with &ldquo;force-to-X&rdquo; models, the fault coverage of the test patterns thus generated is significantly improved.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Suryanarayana Duggirala