Timing-aware test generation and fault simulation
First Claim
1. A method of generating test patterns for testing an integrated circuit, comprising:
- identifying two or more possible fault propagation paths in an integrated circuit design, the possible fault propagation paths being capable of propagating a fault effect of a targeted slow-to-rise transition fault or slow-to-fall transition fault to an observation point in the integrated circuit design;
selecting one of the possible fault propagation paths using a weighted random selection procedure;
generating test pattern values that propagate the fault effect of the targeted slow-to-rise transition fault or slow-to-fall transition fault on the selected fault propagation path; and
storing the test pattern values.
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are exemplary methods, apparatus, and systems for performing timing-aware automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) that can be used, for example, to improve the quality of a test set generated for detecting delay defects or holding time defects. In certain embodiments, timing information derived from various sources (e.g. from Standard Delay Format (SDF) files) is integrated into an ATPG tool. The timing information can be used to guide the test generator to detect the faults through certain paths (e.g., paths having a selected length, or range of lengths, such as the longest or shortest paths). To avoid propagating the faults through similar paths repeatedly, a weighted random method can be used to improve the path coverage during test generation. Experimental results show that significant test quality improvement can be achieved when applying embodiments of timing-aware ATPG to industrial designs.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of generating test patterns for testing an integrated circuit, comprising:
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identifying two or more possible fault propagation paths in an integrated circuit design, the possible fault propagation paths being capable of propagating a fault effect of a targeted slow-to-rise transition fault or slow-to-fall transition fault to an observation point in the integrated circuit design; selecting one of the possible fault propagation paths using a weighted random selection procedure; generating test pattern values that propagate the fault effect of the targeted slow-to-rise transition fault or slow-to-fall transition fault on the selected fault propagation path; and storing the test pattern values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. One or more computer-readable storage media storing test pattern values generated by a method, the method comprising:
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identifying two or more possible fault propagation paths in an integrated circuit design, the possible fault propagation paths being capable of propagating a fault effect of a targeted slow-to-rise transition fault or slow-to-fall transition fault to an observation point in the integrated circuit design; selecting one of the possible fault propagation paths using a weighted random selection procedure; generating test pattern values that propagate the fault effect of the targeted slow-to-rise transition fault or slow-to-fall transition fault on the selected fault propagation path; and storing the test pattern values.
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14. One or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
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identifying two or more possible fault propagation paths in an integrated circuit design, the possible fault propagation paths being capable of propagating a fault effect of a targeted slow-to-rise transition fault or slow-to-fall transition fault to an observation point in the integrated circuit design; selecting one of the possible fault propagation paths using a weighted random selection procedure; and generating test pattern values that propagate the fault effect of the targeted slow-to-rise transition fault or slow-to-fall transition fault on the selected fault propagation path. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification