On Mixed Signal Testing

With the proliferation of complex semiconductor devices containing digital, analog, mixed-signal and radio-frequency circuits, the economics of test has come to the forefront and today's engineer needs to be fluent in all four circuit types. Having access to a book that covers these topicswill help the evolving test engineer immensely and will be an invaluable resource. In addition, the second edition includes lengthy discussion on RF circuits, high-speed I/Os and probabilistic reasoning. Appropriate for the junior/senior university level, this textbook includes hundreds of examples,exercises and problems.

The modern electronic testing has a forty year history. Test professionals hold some fairly large conferences and numerous workshops, have a journal, and there are over one hundred books on testing. Still, a full course on testing is offered only at a few universities, mostly by professors who have a research interest in this area. Apparently, most professors would not have taken a course on electronic testing when they were students. Other than the computer engineering curriculum being too crowded, the major reason cited for the absence of a course on electronic testing is the lack of a suitable textbook. For VLSI the foundation was provided by semiconductor device techn- ogy, circuit design, and electronic testing. In a computer engineering curriculum, therefore, it is necessary that foundations should be taught before applications. The field of VLSI has expanded to systems-on-a-chip, which include digital, memory, and mixed-signalsubsystems. To our knowledge this is the first textbook to cover all three types of electronic circuits. We have written this textbook for an undergraduate “foundations” course on electronic testing. Obviously, it is too voluminous for a one-semester course and a teacher will have to select from the topics. We did not restrict such freedom because the selection may depend upon the individual expertise and interests. Besides, there is merit in having a larger book that will retain its usefulness for the owner even after the completion of the course. With equal tenacity, we address the needs of three other groups of readers.

Answers the commonly asked questions about how digital signal processing-based machines work and what role DSP plays in the process. It shows you how DSP performs in real-test situations and uses mathematical concepts rather than derivations. The text addresses difficult test problems and their solutions resulting from the union of automatic test equipment (ATE) and DSP. The author establishes a philosophy of DSP-based testing describing how to think, how to approach a problem, how to create a solution, and how to determine if it really works properly.

More and more chips are being designed with both analog and digital circuitry next to each other, which makes testing analog circuitry even more challenging. This comprehensive guide reviews all the potential testing options, helping designers, engineers, CAD developers, and researchers choose the most cost-effective, accurate solutions for both mixed-signal and analog-only testing.

Test and Design-for-Testability in Mixed-Signal Integrated Circuits deals with test and design for test of analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits. Especially in System-on-Chip (SoC), where different technologies are intertwined (analog, digital, sensors, RF); test is becoming a true bottleneck of present and future IC projects. Linking design and test in these heterogeneous systems will have a tremendous impact in terms of test time, cost and proficiency. Although it is recognized as a key issue for developing complex ICs, there is still a lack of structured references presenting the major topics in this area. The aim of this book is to present basic concepts and new ideas in a manner understandable for both professionals and students. Since this is an active research field, a comprehensive state-of-the-art overview is very valuable, introducing the main problems as well as the ways of solution that seem promising, emphasizing their basis, strengths and weaknesses. In essence, several topics are presented in detail. First of all, techniques for the efficient use of DSP-based test and CAD test tools. Standardization is another topic considered in the book, with focus on the IEEE 1149.4. Also addressed in depth is the connecting design and test by means of using high-level (behavioural) description techniques, specific examples are given. Another issue is related to test techniques for well-defined classes of integrated blocks, like data converters and phase-locked-loops. Besides these specification-driven testing techniques, fault-driven approaches are described as they offer potential solutions which are more similar to digital test methods. Finally, in Design-for-Testability and Built-In-Self-Test, two other concepts that were taken from digital design, are introduced in an analog context and illustrated for the case of integrated filters. In summary, the purpose of this book is to provide a glimpse on recent research results in the area of testing mixed-signal integrated circuits, specifically in the topics mentioned above. Much of the work reported herein has been performed within cooperative European Research Projects, in which the authors of the different chapters have actively collaborated. It is a representative snapshot of the current state-of-the-art in this emergent field.

Mixed-Signal Circuits offers a thoroughly modern treatment of integrated circuit design in the context of mixed-signal applications. Featuring chapters authored by leading experts from industry and academia, this book: Discusses signal integrity and large-scale simulation, verification, and testing Demonstrates advanced design techniques that enable digital circuits and sensitive analog circuits to coexist without any compromise Describes the process technology needed to address the performance challenges associated with developing complex mixed-signal circuits Deals with modeling topics, such as reliability, variability, and crosstalk, that define pre-silicon design methodology and trends, and are the focus of companies involved in wireless applications Develops methods to move analog into the digital domain quickly, minimizing and eliminating common trade-offs between performance, power consumption, simulation time, verification, size, and cost Details approaches for very low-power performances, high-speed interfaces, phase-locked loops (PLLs), voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs), analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and biomedical filters Delineates the respective parts of a full system-on-chip (SoC), from the digital parts to the baseband blocks, radio frequency (RF) circuitries, electrostatic-discharge (ESD) structures, and built-in self-test (BIST) architectures Mixed-Signal Circuits explores exciting opportunities in wireless communications and beyond. The book is a must for anyone involved in mixed-signal circuit design for future technologies.

Mixed Signal Test Methods Demystified is a less theoretical, less mathematical, and more applications-oriented approach than other books available on the topic. In effect, this book will give readers a "just in time" understanding of the essentials of mixed signal testing techniques. Emphasis will be on commonly used devices and systems (such as PLLs and DSP) that engineers encounter in their daily tasks. Sampling theory is covered in detail, as this is the foundation for understanding all mixed signal testing technique, and readers will have a strong intuitive grasp of this topic after finishing this book. Baker aims to develop an intuitive understanding of mixed signal testing that minimizes the mathematics required and is germane to the sort of testing requirements found in typical engineering situations. *Takes a less theoretical, less mathematical, and more applications-oriented approach *Emphasizes commonly used devices and systems that engineers encounter in their daily tasks *Aims to develop an intuitive understanding of mixed signal testing