A test controller for BIST of Boundary Scan Boards is described. It consists of a test processor core, with an optimized architecture for controlling the board-level BST infrastructure, and a system level testability bus interjace, allowing the implementation of a hierarchical test strategy. Automatic test pattern generation for this dedicated processor simplifies the task of providing a board-level BIST solution.

The automatic generation of a hierarchical self-test architecture for boards with Boundary Scan Test (BST) is described, based on a test processor specifically designed to implement the basic operations required to control the BST infrastructure. An ATPG module generates the ROM containing the test program, allowing a single-chip self-test solution with minimal design-for-testability overhead. The same test processor may be used wilhout internal ROM, when a single-chip solution is not desirable.

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