Automatic tester for complex semiconductor components including combinations of logic, memory and analog devices and processes of testing thereof
First Claim
1. A testing apparatus for stimulating and measuring analog properties of a circuit under test while enabling the simultaneous stimulation and measurement by a logic testing apparatus on a plurality of terminals of the circuit under test, connected to the I/O bus of a central processing unit for receiving an instruction having an address and a data component, the address component including an analog/logic selection field, an instrument selection field, and a circuit under test pin selection field and the data portion including an instrument data field and a buffer circuit data field, comprising:
- an instrument decoder having an input connected to said central processing unit I/O bus;
a first testing instrument having a control input connected to an output of said instrument decoder and a second testing instrument having a control input connected to an output of said instrument decoder, said first and second testing instruments having data lines connected to said central processing unit I/O bus;
said instrument decoder generating an enabling signal to said first testing instrument in response to the receipt of a first instrument select field in a first instruction output from said central processing unit, causing said first testing instrument to generate a signal waveform on an output line, characterized by a first instrument data field in said first instruction;
said instrument decoder enabling said second testing instrument in response to the receipt of a second instrument select field in a second instruction output from said central processing unit, causing said second testing instrument to measure a second signal waveform on an input line, based upon measurement criteria specified by a second instrument data field in said second instruction;
a multiplexor having a first signal input connected to the output of said first testing instrument and a control input for receiving a component under test pin select field from said first instruction;
a first buffer circuit having an input connected to a first output from said multiplexor, which first output is connected through said multiplexor to said signal output of said first test instrument in response to a component under test pin select field in said first instruction;
a buffer circuit decoder having an input connected to said I/O bus from said central processing unit and a control input connected to said first buffer circuit, for connecting said first output from said multiplexor, through said first buffer circuit to a first terminal on said component under test in response to a buffer circuit data field in said first instruction, enabling the input of said first signal waveform to said first terminal on said component under test;
a second buffer circuit having an input connected to a second terminal of said component under test, which second terminal generates said second signal waveform which is the component under test'"'"'s response to said first signal waveform;
a second buffer circuit decoder having an input connected to said I/O bus of said central processing unit and a control output connected to said second buffer circuit for connecting said second terminal of said component under test through said second buffer circuit to a second input line to said multiplexor in response to a second buffer circuit data field in said second instruction;
said multiplexor having a second output line connected to said signal input line for said second testing instrument, connected through said multiplexor to said second buffer circuit in response to a second circuit under test pin select field in said second instruction;
said second testing instrument measuring said second signal waveform generated from said second terminal of said component under test and generating a digital representation of said measurement which is output over said output line of said second testing instrument to the I/O bus of said central processing unit;
whereby a plurality of test may be performed on the component under test.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Logic and analog functions in a complex semiconductor component are stuck fault and parametrically tested through an analog/digital measurement adapter coupled to logic and analog testers. Both logic and analog testers are under computer control whose purpose is to direct the testing sequence, log test results, perform algorithmic calculations on the data and diagnose failing devices in the component under test. The adapter provides the electrical environment to match a range of components under test to the logic and analog testers. The adapter is also under computer control to permit impedance matching of a multiplicity of digitally controlled stimulus/response units connected through a multiplexor to the range of components under test.
62 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A testing apparatus for stimulating and measuring analog properties of a circuit under test while enabling the simultaneous stimulation and measurement by a logic testing apparatus on a plurality of terminals of the circuit under test, connected to the I/O bus of a central processing unit for receiving an instruction having an address and a data component, the address component including an analog/logic selection field, an instrument selection field, and a circuit under test pin selection field and the data portion including an instrument data field and a buffer circuit data field, comprising:
-
an instrument decoder having an input connected to said central processing unit I/O bus; a first testing instrument having a control input connected to an output of said instrument decoder and a second testing instrument having a control input connected to an output of said instrument decoder, said first and second testing instruments having data lines connected to said central processing unit I/O bus; said instrument decoder generating an enabling signal to said first testing instrument in response to the receipt of a first instrument select field in a first instruction output from said central processing unit, causing said first testing instrument to generate a signal waveform on an output line, characterized by a first instrument data field in said first instruction; said instrument decoder enabling said second testing instrument in response to the receipt of a second instrument select field in a second instruction output from said central processing unit, causing said second testing instrument to measure a second signal waveform on an input line, based upon measurement criteria specified by a second instrument data field in said second instruction; a multiplexor having a first signal input connected to the output of said first testing instrument and a control input for receiving a component under test pin select field from said first instruction; a first buffer circuit having an input connected to a first output from said multiplexor, which first output is connected through said multiplexor to said signal output of said first test instrument in response to a component under test pin select field in said first instruction; a buffer circuit decoder having an input connected to said I/O bus from said central processing unit and a control input connected to said first buffer circuit, for connecting said first output from said multiplexor, through said first buffer circuit to a first terminal on said component under test in response to a buffer circuit data field in said first instruction, enabling the input of said first signal waveform to said first terminal on said component under test; a second buffer circuit having an input connected to a second terminal of said component under test, which second terminal generates said second signal waveform which is the component under test'"'"'s response to said first signal waveform; a second buffer circuit decoder having an input connected to said I/O bus of said central processing unit and a control output connected to said second buffer circuit for connecting said second terminal of said component under test through said second buffer circuit to a second input line to said multiplexor in response to a second buffer circuit data field in said second instruction; said multiplexor having a second output line connected to said signal input line for said second testing instrument, connected through said multiplexor to said second buffer circuit in response to a second circuit under test pin select field in said second instruction; said second testing instrument measuring said second signal waveform generated from said second terminal of said component under test and generating a digital representation of said measurement which is output over said output line of said second testing instrument to the I/O bus of said central processing unit; whereby a plurality of test may be performed on the component under test. - View Dependent Claims (10, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
2. The apparatus of claim 2 which further comprises:
-
a logic tester having an input connected to said I/O bus, a stimulus output line connected to said first buffer circuit and a measurement input line connected to said second buffer circuit, for selectively carrying out digital testing of said component under test in response to said analog/logic selection field in said first and second instruction; whereby both digital and analog tests may be simultaneously carried out on the component under test. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16)
-
Specification