Automatic test pattern generation

About: Automatic test pattern generation is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 8214 publications have been published within this topic receiving 140773 citations. The topic is also known as: ATPG.

Design-for-Testability for Path Delay Faults in Large Combinational Circuits Using Test-Points

Abstract: We present a method for test-point insertion in large combinational circuits, to increase their path delay fault testability. Using an appropriate test application scheme with multiple clock periods, a test-point on a line g divides the set of paths through g for testing purposes into a subset of paths from the primary inputs up to g, and a subset of paths from g to the primary outputs. Each one of these subsets can be tested separately. The number of paths that need to be tested directly is thus reduced. Test-point insertion is done to reduce the number of paths, using a time-efficient procedure. Indirectly, it also reduces the number of tests and renders untestable paths testable. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method proposed in increasing the testability of large benchmark circuits, and to demonstrate the overheads involved.

An Algorithm for the Generation of Test Sets for Combinational Logic Networks

Abstract: An algorithm is developed for generating a single-fault detection test set to be used in a combinational logic network. This algorithm has two unique characteristics. 1) When a test is generated, a list of faults detected by this test is available. Fault simulation, therefore, is not required after the test has been generated. 2) It generates a test set rather than a single test. Each test, with the exception of the first one, is based on a previous test. Repetition of effort and overlapped coverage of faults for different test generations are thus reduced.

TIGUAN: Thread-Parallel Integrated Test Pattern Generator Utilizing Satisfiability ANalysis

Abstract: We present the automatic test pattern generator TIGUAN based on a thread-parallel SAT solver. Due to a tight integration of the SAT engine into the ATPG algorithm and a carefully chosen mix of various optimization techniques, multi-million-gate industrial circuits are handled without aborts. TIGUAN supports both conventional single-stuck-at faults and sophisticated conditional multiple stuck-at faults which allows to generate patterns for non-standard fault models.

A SAT-based implication engine for efficient ATPG, equivalence checking, and optimization of netlists

Abstract: The paper presents a flexible and efficient approach to evaluating implications as well as deriving indirect implications in logic circuits. Evaluation and derivation of implications are essential in ATPG, equivalence checking, and netlist optimization. Contrary to other methods, the approach is based on a graph model of a circuit's clause description called implication graph. It combines both the flexibility of SAT-based techniques and high efficiency of structure based methods. As the proposed algorithms operate only on the implication graph, they are independent of the chosen logic. Evaluation of implications and computation of indirect implications are performed by simple and efficient graph algorithms. Experimental results for various applications relying on implication demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.

Timing-aware test generation and fault simulation

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.