S.K. Mukund, Center for Reliable Comput., Stanford Univ., CA, USA
T.R.N. Rao, Center for Reliable Comput., Stanford Univ., CA, USA
Abstract: In this paper we propose a new apparatus for embedding deterministic patterns in pseudo-random sequences, with application to at-speed BIST. We employ an arbitrary length Shift Register driven by a LFSR (LFSR/SR) with the size of the LFSR dependent only on the number of care bits in any test vector. We provide an efficient method to compute positions of bit-patterns at arbitrarily chosen tap configurations in the LFSR/SR sequence. Hence, one can make an optimal choice of test segments (seeds) while taking inherent advantage of don't care bits in test vectors, say corresponding to random pattern resistant faults. The length of the LFSR/SR can be arbitrarily increased to feed several interconnected logic blocks such that all the care bits of any deterministic test vector can be predictably generated without compromising computational efficiency.
Index Terms:
logic testing; built-in self test; shift registers; integrated circuit testing; pseudo-deterministic testing; deterministic patterns; pseudo-random sequences; at-speed BIST; arbitrary length shift register; LFSR; care bits; test vector; tap configurations; test segments; don't care bits; random pattern resistant faults; interconnected logic blocks; computational efficiency
Citation:
S.K. Mukund, E.J. McCluskey, T.R.N. Rao, "An apparatus for pseudo-deterministic testing," vts, pp.0125, 13th IEEE VLSI Test Symposium (VTS'95), 1995