Reduced cost, high speed circuit test arrangement

• US 6,583,639 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Vogley, Wilbur C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuneo, Kamand
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOBERT, RUSSELL MARC
• Application Number:
  US09/633,305
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 324/754, 324/755, 324/761, 324/762, 324/763, 324/765, 702/117-126, 714/718, 714/724, 714/725, 714/726, 714/727, 714/730, 714/734, 714/738, 714/740, 714/742, 714/743
• US Class Current: 324/756.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/319 Tester hardware, i.e. output processing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31907 Modular tester, e.g. controlling and coordinating instruments in a bus based architecture

Abstract

An integrated circuit device test arrangement includes a plurality of microcomputers. Each of the microcomputers is interconnected directly through a separate test socket to a separate integrated circuit device that is inserted into the test socket. A device tester is coupled to the plurality of microcomputers for transmitting information between the device tester and the plurality of microcomputers. Each microcomputer contains instructions and data for performing a test routine on the associated integrated circuit device and transmitting selected results of the test routine to the tester.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a control computer arranged to produce test algorithm information;

a plurality of integrated circuits for executing the test algorithm information to generate test signals;

a serial loop for serially communicating data packets from the control computer to the plurality of integrated circuits, wherein the data packets each include an address portion corresponding to at least one of the integrated circuits and a data portion including the test algorithm information; and

a plurality of sockets, each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of integrated circuits, and each for receiving a respective circuit to be operated so that test signals generated by the corresponding integrated circuit according to the test algorithm information are communicated to the received circuit.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the serial loop communicates data packets according to a scalable coherent interface standard.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the test signals are arranged to vary an operating frequency of said respective plurality of circuits to be operated.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of circuits to be operated comprise different types of circuits.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein each integrated circuit of said plurality of integrated circuits comprises a delay circuit, the delay circuit arranged to delay a respective plurality of signals by respective predetermined times, such that the signals are applied to each respective circuit of said circuits to be operated at substantially the same time.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein each integrated circuit of said plurality of integrated circuits comprises a processor and a memory circuit.

7. A system as in claim 6, wherein the processor is arranged to apply a sequence of signals to each circuit of said circuits to be operated and receive a corresponding sequence of data signals from said each circuit.

8. A system as in claim 1, comprising a power supply circuit coupled to the control computer, the power supply circuit arranged to apply power to the plurality of sockets in response to control signals from the control computer.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein each of the circuits to be operated are memory circuits, and wherein each of the plurality of integrated circuits produces row and column address signals at a respective socket of the plurality of sockets.

10. A system comprising:

a control computer for generating test algorithm information including instructions and data;

a plurality of microprocessors, each capable of executing test algorithm information received from the control computer;

a serial bus, serially coupling the control computer and the plurality of microprocessors, for communicating data packets from the control computer to the plurality of microprocessors, wherein the data packets each include an address portion corresponding to at least one of the microprocessors and a data portion including the test algorithm information; and

a plurality of sockets, each for receiving a circuit to be tested, and each coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of microprocessors, for communicating test signals generated by the corresponding microprocessor according to the test algorithm information, to the circuit to be tested.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein the serial bus communicates data packets according to a scalable coherent interface standard.

12. A system as in claim 10, wherein the test signals are arranged to vary an operating frequency of the plurality of circuits to be tested.

13. A system as in claim 10, further comprising a delay circuit associated with each microprocessor, the delay circuit arranged to delay a respective plurality of test signals by respective predetermined times, such that the test signals are applied to each circuit to be operated at substantially the same time.

14. A system as in claim 10, wherein the plurality of circuits to be operated comprise different types of circuits.

15. A system as in claim 10, further comprising a memory circuit associated with each of the microprocessors.

16. A system as in claim 15, wherein each microprocessor is arranged to apply a sequence of test signals to its circuit to be operated and receive a corresponding sequence of data signals from said circuit.

17. A system as in claim 10, further comprising a power supply circuit coupled to the control computer, the power supply circuit arranged to apply power to the plurality of sockets in response to control signals from the control computer.

18. A system as in claim 10, further comprising a clock circuit coupled to the control computer, the clock circuit arranged to apply clock signals to the plurality of sockets in response to control signals from the control computer.