Software-Based Self-Test for Delay Faults

Abstract

Digital integrated circuits require thorough testing in order to guarantee product quality. This is usually achieved with the use of scan chains and automatically generated test patterns. However, functional approaches are often used to complement test suites. Software-Based Self-Test (SBST) can be used to increase defect coverage in microcontrollers, to replace part of the scan pattern set to reduce tester requirements, or to complement the defect coverage achieved by structural techniques when advanced semiconductor technologies introduce new defect types. Delay testing has become common practice with VLSI integration, and with the latest technologies, targeting small delay defects (SDDs) has become necessary. This chapter deals with SBST for delay faults and describes a case of study based on a peripheral module integrated in a System on Chip (SoC). A method to develop an effective functional test is first described. A comparative analysis of the delay faults detected by scan and SBST is then presented, with some discussion about the obtained results.