Oscillation-based test method for testing an at least partially analog circuit
First Claim
1. An oscillation-based test method for testing an at least partially analog circuit, comprising the steps of:
- (a) dividing said at least partially analog circuit into building blocks each having a given structure;
(b) connecting to at least one of the building blocks additional circuitry forming with said at least one building block an oscillator circuit producing an output signal, wherein said at least one building block is under test, and wherein the output signal has an oscillation frequency having a frequency value related to the given structure of said at least one building block under test;
(c) measuring the oscillation frequency of said output signal; and
(d) detecting a fault in said at least one building block under test when the measured oscillation frequency deviates from a given, nominal frequency.
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Abstract
The oscillation-based test method and device is applied to at least partially analog circuits. The at least partially analog circuit is first divided into building blocks each having a given structure. Each building block is then inserted into an oscillator circuit to produce an output signal having an oscillation frequency related to the structure of the building block under test. The oscillation frequency is then measured and a fault in the building block under test is detected when the measured oscillation frequency deviates from a given, nominal frequency. Experiments have demonstrated that the frequency deviation enables the detection of catastrophic and/or parametric faults, and ensures a high fault coverage. In this new time-domain test method, a single output frequency is evaluated for each building block whereby the test duration is very short. These characteristics make the test strategy very attractive for wafer-probe testing as well as final production testing.
50 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An oscillation-based test method for testing an at least partially analog circuit, comprising the steps of:
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(a) dividing said at least partially analog circuit into building blocks each having a given structure; (b) connecting to at least one of the building blocks additional circuitry forming with said at least one building block an oscillator circuit producing an output signal, wherein said at least one building block is under test, and wherein the output signal has an oscillation frequency having a frequency value related to the given structure of said at least one building block under test; (c) measuring the oscillation frequency of said output signal; and (d) detecting a fault in said at least one building block under test when the measured oscillation frequency deviates from a given, nominal frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for testing an at least partially analog circuit divided into building blocks each having a given structure, comprising:
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means for connecting to at least one of the building blocks additional circuitry forming with said at least one building block an oscillator circuit producing an output signal, wherein said at least one building block is under test, and wherein the output signal has an oscillation frequency having a frequency value related to the given structure of said at least one building block under test; means for measuring the oscillation frequency of said output signal; and means for detecting a fault in said at least one building block under test when the measured oscillation frequency deviates from a given, nominal frequency. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification