Test And Design For Testability In Mixed Signal Integrated Circuits

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.

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.

Using the book and the software provided with it, the reader can build his/her own tester arrangement to investigate key aspects of analog-, digital- and mixed system circuits Plan of attack based on traditional testing, circuit design and circuit manufacture allows the reader to appreciate a testing regime from the point of view of all the participating interests Worked examples based on theoretical bookwork, practical experimentation and simulation exercises teach the reader how to test circuits thoroughly and effectively

All aspects of chip realization for both digital and analog circuits are covered. Electronics engineers are shown how to choose appropriate technololgy and circuit architecture, and plan the IC design. They'll gain expert information on power consaiderations, the advantages and disadvantages of each IC architecture, and aspects of design for testability.

Hurst, an editor at the Microelectronics Journal, analyzes common problems that electronics engineers and circuit designers encounter while testing integrated circuits and the systems in which they are used, and explains a variety of solutions available for overcoming them in both digital and mixed circuits. Among his topics are faults in digital circuits, generating a digital test pattern, signatures and self-tests, structured design for testability, testing structured digital circuits and microprocessors, and financial aspects of testing. The self- contained reference is also suitable as a textbook in a formal course on the subject. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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.

This book provides a comprehensive discussion of automatic testing, diagnosis and tuning of analogue, mixed-signal and RF integrated circuits, and systems in a single source. As well as fundamental concepts and techniques, the book reports systematically the state of the arts and future research directions of those areas. A complete range of circuit components are covered and test issues from the SoC perspective. An essential reference for researchers and engineers in mixed signal testing, postgraduate and senior undergraduate students.

This book contains more than the IEEE Standard 1149.4. It also contains the thoughts of those who developed the standard. Adam Osseiran has edited the original writings of Brian Wilkins, Colin Maunder, Rod Tulloss, Steve Sunter, Mani Soma, Keith Lofstrom and John McDermid, all of whom have personally contributed to this standard. To preserve the original spirit, only minor changes were made, and the reader will sense a chapter-to-chapter variation in the style of expression. This may appear awkward to some, although I found the Iack of monotonicity refreshing. A system consists of a specific organization of parts. The function of the system cannot be performed by an individual part or even a disorganized collection ofthe same parts. Testing has a system-like characteristic. Testing of a system does not follow directly from the testing of its parts, and a system built with testable parts can sometimes be impossible to test. Therefore, testability of the system must be organized. Some years ago, the IEEE published the boundary-scan Standard 1149.1. That Standard provided an architecture for digital VLSI chips. The chips designed with the 1149.1 architecture can be integrated into a testable system. However, many systems today contain both analog and digital chips. Even if all digital chips are compliant with the standard, the testability of a mixed-signal system cannot be guaranteed. The new Standard 1149.4, described in this book, extends the previous architecture to mixed-signal systems.