DESIGN FOR TESTABILITY

Raimund Ubar
raiub@pld.ttu.ee

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Design for Testability

Lectures
Testability of Digital Systems
Design for Testability Methods
BIST/BISD
Practical Works
Two laboratory works
Course work

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Literature
L.-T.Wang, C.-W.Wu, X.Wen. VLSI Test Principles and
Architectures. Elsevier, 2006, 777 p.
O.Novak, E.Gramatova, R.Ubar. Handbook of Testing Electronic
Systems. Czech TU Publishing House, 2005, 395 p.
A.Miczo. Digital Logic Testing and Simulation. Wiley-Interscience,
New Yersey, 2003, 668 p.
N.Jha, S.Gupta. Testing of Digital Systems. Cambridge Univ.
Press, 2003, 1000 p.
R.Ubar, J.Raik, Th.Vierhaus. IGI Global, Hershey New York,
2011, 550 p.

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Literature
Other:
H.-J.Wunderlich, Ed. Models in Hardware Testing. Springer, 2010.
M.Gssel, E.Sogomonjan et. al. New Methods of Concurrent
Checking. Springer, 2008.
D.Gizopulos. Advances in Electronic Testing, Technology &
Engineering. Springer, 2006.
D.Gizopulos, A.Paschalis, Y.Zorian. Embedded Processor-Based
Self-Test. Kluwer Acad. Publishers, 2004.

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Goals of the DFT Course
To give the basic knowledge:
How to improve test quality at
increasing complexities of systems?
This knowledges includes
understanding of how the physical
defects can influence on the behavior
of systems, and what is diagnostic
modelling
understanding the meaning of
testability, and how to design well
testable systems
learning the basic methods of making
systems self-testable
The goal is also to give some hands-on
experience of solving test related
problems

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA 5

 Practical Importance of testability?

To improve the manufacturing

processes and to increase the yield
To design reliable systems out of not
reliable components which leads to
the need of fault-tolerance
Field diagnosis as the traditional task
The Rule of Ten is the Sword of
Damokles
The increasing complexity of VLSI
circuits has made test and diagnosis Automated diagnosis is
the most complicated problems in needed
digital design

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA 6

 Raimund Ubar Integreeritud elektroonikassteemide ja biomeditsiinitehnika tippkeskus

Why the topic of DFT is important?

1. We depend too much on

computers and on the
technical systems controlled by
computers

Tiina Ubar

7
 Raimund Ubar Integreeritud elektroonikassteemide ja biomeditsiinitehnika tippkeskus

Computers and Embedded Systems

Universal Embedded systems
computers 98%
2%

98 %

Microprocessor
market shares

We notice our dependency on

electronics only when it suddenly
gives up to work
8
 Raimund Ubar Research in ATI

Why the topic of DFT is important?

2. Engineering has two sides:
- 99% of the engireering creation brings us happiness
- 1% causes trouble (the blame against engineers)
Engineering artifacts must be safe, secure and dependable
1991. Fault in the Patriot missile in the Gulf War -
killing 28 soldiers and injuring 100 people In 5 years the US
1995. Intel Pentium processor was found faulty - economic loss
$475 millions of loss from computer
1995. Ariane 5 reached the altitude of 3700 m and bugs
exploded $7 billions of loss has increased
2003. Space Shuttle Columbia disaster killing all 7 5 times
crew members
2010. Failure in the Toyotas anti-lock brake Now 60 billions
system - 4,5 millions cars back to the industry USD per year

9
 Introduction: Testing World

Test
experiment
Test
System result
(BIST)

Fault simulation Fault diagnosis

System Fault
Test model dictionary

Go/No go
Test generation
Located defect

Test tools

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Raimund Ubar

What is a test?
Test-
program How many
test patterns
are needed
12 + 10 = ? to test an adder?

Processor

Diagnosis

22

Test
results
11
 Hierarchy: Divide and Conquer
Engineer vs. computer: The best place to start is
with a good title.
To generate a test Then build
for a component a song around it.
in a system, (Wisdom of country music)
the computer
needed
2 days and 2 nights Sea of gates

An engineer
did it by hand
with 15 minutes &
Sequence 16 bit
1
of 216 bits counter
So, why computers? System

Design for Testability

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Raimund Ubar Integreeritud elektroonikassteemide ja biomeditsiinitehnika tippkeskus

Why the topic of DFT is important?

The main property of
todays systems is
COMPLEXITY
To manage the complexity
we have to know methods
like:
- abstraction
- modeling
- simulation
- hierarchical
divide and conquer
- ...

13
 Raimund Ubar

Why Design for Testability?

Test generation process for detecting a fault:

Defect

Expert systems

011001
were used in Europe
? Know-how but not in US

Expert system is needed to help the test programmer

14
 Raimund Ubar

Why Design for Testability?

Test generation process for detecting a fault:

Defekt

Gordion
Knot

011001
Hard-to-test-
? part

New paradigm
ScanPath Design
011001 15
mindmappingsoftwareblog.com
 Raimund Ubar

Alexander cuts the Gordian Knot

16
Jean-Simon Berthlemy (17431811)
 Making Systems Transparent

IN OUT
Combinational
circuit

q R q
theisleofwightcomputergeek.co.uk

IN OUT
Combinational
circuit

Scan-IN
q R q
Scan-Path design strategy
Scan-OUT

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA 17

Boundary Scan Standard

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Design for Testability
To ways for improving testability with inserting of control
points:

System
under
test
Improving
Improving observability
controllability

Control points

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA 19

 Introduction: Ad Hoc Design for Testability
Method of Test Points:
Block 1 is not observable,
Block 1 Block 2 Block 2 is not controllable

Improving controllability and observability:

OP
1- controllability:
CP = 0 - normal working mode
Block 1 1 Block 2
CP = 1 - controlling Block 2
with signal 1
CP
OP
0- controllability:
Block 1 & Block 2 CP = 1 - normal working mode
CP = 0 - controlling Block 2
with signal 0
CP
Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA
 Introduction: Tradeoffs
Amusing testability:
Theorem: You can test an arbitrary digital system by only 3 test patterns
if you design it approprietly

Proof:
011 011 001
& 001 &
101 101
?
&

011 001
& 011
101 1
010 & 001
101

General
System Scan-Path FSM CC NAND
Solution?

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Making Systems Transparent

IN OUT
Combinational
circuit

q R q
theisleofwightcomputergeek.co.uk

IN OUT
Combinational
circuit

Scan-IN
q R q
Scan-Path design strategy
Scan-OUT

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA 22

 Introduction: Built-in Self-Test
Cores have to be tested on chip

Source: Intel
Source: Elcoteq

Copyright 2010 Raimund Ubar Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA 23

 Introduction: Self-Test in Digital Systems
SoC
Test architecture components:
SoC Test pattern source & sink
Peripheral
SRAM Component SRAM
Interconnect Test Access Mechanism
Test Access
Mechanism Core test wrapper
Wrapper
ROM
Core
CPU Under Sink
Test Solutions:
Off-chip solution
Source Test Access
Mechanism
need for external ATE
Combined solution
DRAM
MPEG UDL mostly on-chip, ATE
needed for control
On-chip solution
BIST

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Self-Test in Complex Digital Systems
Test architecture components:
SoC
SoC
Peripheral Test pattern source & sink
SRAM Component SRAM
Interconnect Test Access Mechanism
Core test wrapper
Wrapper
ROM
Core
CPUSource Under Sink
Test Solutions:
Off-chip solution
need for external ATE
Combined solution
DRAM
MPEG UDL mostly on-chip, ATE
needed for control
On-chip solution
BIST

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA 25

 Introduction: What is BIST

On circuit
Test pattern generation Test Pattern Generation (TPG)

Response verification
Random pattern Circuitry Under Test
BIST
generation, Control Unit
CUT
very long tests
Response compression Test Response Analysis (TRA)
IC

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Introduction: SoC BIST
Optimization:
Embedded Tester - testing time
Core 1 - Core 2 cost
memory
- power consumption
Test Test access
Controller BIST mechanism - cost
hardwareBIST
- test quality

Tester
Memory
BIST BIST BIST

Core 3 Core 4 Core 5

System on Chip

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Course Work. Investigations of BIST

Design of a circuit
Evaluation of the testability of the circuit
Redesign for testability
Control points selection, optimization
Scan path, optimization
Built-in self-test. Design of solutions
Experimental research

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Course Work. Introduction

In-circuit
Test pattern generation Test Pattern Generation (TPG)

Response verification
Pseudorandom test Circuitry Under Test
BIST
generation, Control Unit
CUT
very long tests
Hybrid test solutions Test Response Analysis (TRA)
IC
Response compression

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Course Work. Description of the Circuit
Test Generator - LFSR

4
1. Design of a combinational circuit
A B C x z for the following functionality

k1, k2 If x = 0, z = 0, then Y = k1A + k2B, else

k3, k1 if x = 0, z = 1, then Y = k3A - k1C, else

MUX
k1 , k2 , if x = 1, z = 0, then
k3
k4 , k5 ,
Y = (k1A k1B k2C) (k3C NOT (k3A) k1B),
k6
else
4
Y
if x = 1, z = 1, then Y = k4A2 + k5A + k6
Interface
Coefficients ki can be found on the
next slide
Signature Analyzer

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

Coefficients for the Course Work Versions

Vers. Vers
k1 k2 k3 k4 k5 k6 k1 k2 k3 k4 k5 k6
No. no.
1 1 1 1 0,1 0,2 0,5 8 1 1 1 1,5 0,1 0,5

2 1 1 0 0,1 0,2 1,0 9 1 1 0 1,5 0,1 1,0

3 1 0 1 0,1 0,2 2,0 10 1 0 1 1,5 0,4 2,0

4 1 0 0 0,1 0,2 3,0 11 1 0 0 1,5 0,4 3,0

5 0 1 1 0,1 1,0 0,5 12 0 1 1 1,5 0,8 0,5

6 0 1 0 0,1 1,0 1,0 13 0 1 0 1,5 0,8 1,0

7 0 0 1 0,1 2,0 2,0 14 0 0 1 1,5 1,5 2,0

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Course Work. Design of Interface Versions
Test Generator - LFSR
2. Use three different interface versions for
4 experiments: 1 bit, 2-bit and 4- or more bit
A B C x z interfaces for respective n-bit Signature
Analyzers
k1, k2
The types of interface:
k3, k1 Y
MUX 2 2 4
k1 , k2 ,
Y Y
k3
k4 , k5 ,
1) 2) 3) n bit SA
k6
4
Y
1 bit SA 2 bit SA
Interface

Signature Analyzer

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

Course Work. Design of a Testable Circuit
3. Enter the designed gate-level (AND, OR, NOT) combinational
circuit into the computer, using CADENCE circuit editor
4. Generate test patterns with Turbo-Tester (TT) ATPG. If the fault
coverage is 100%, remove one or more patterns from the test
set, so that at least two faults remain undetected.
5. Improve the testability of the circuit to reach again 100% fault
coverage with the updated test set

OP
1- controllability:
CP = 0 - normal working mode
Block 1 1 Block 2
CP = 1 - controlling Block 2
with signal 1
CP

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Course Work. Observability Investigation

6. Analyze two different testability improvement solutions:

- Separate pins for all observability points
- Single joint pin for all observability points
Draw the graphics for both cases for the function P = f(T) where P is
fault coverage, and T is test length

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

Course Work. Design of a Test Generator
BILBO - Built- In Logic
Block Observer:
LFSR - Test Pattern Generator
Combinational circuit
LFSR - Signature analyzer
7. Generate test patterns by the BILBO
tool for 10 different polynomials, and
find the best structure for the LFSR
Report for all 10 experiments the
maximum achievable fault coverage,
and fix the minimum test length
needed for that
Calculate the increase of the circuit
size (in number of 2-input gates) due
to adding of the self-test circuitry
Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA
Course Work. Design of a Test Generator

CSTP - Circular Self-Test 8. Repeat the previous task for the

Path:
LFSR - Test Pattern Generator
& Signature analyser
case of using CSTP ("Circular
Self Test Path") for self-test
purposes

Combinational circuit

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

Course Work. Design of a Signature Analyzer
Test Generator - LFSR
9. Carry out experiments with the best
4 4
Y
test set found in task 7 for 4 different
A B C x z
1)
Signature Analyzers: 1-bit, 2-bit, 4-
bit, and 8-bit
k1, k2
1 bit SA Calculate the fault coverages
k3, k1
Y Draw the graphic P = f(SA), where P is
MUX 2 2
k1 , k2 , the fault coverage and
k3
2) SA is the number of bits in the
k4 , k5 , Signature Analyzer
k6
4
2 bit SA Draw 4 graphics P = f(T), for 4 SA
Y
4
cases, where
Interface
Y T is the test length 5, 10, 15, 20
3) n bit SA etc. up to P = 100%
Explain the graphics
Signature Analyzer

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Course Work. Store-and-Generate BIST
The main motivations of Problem: low fault coverage
using random patterns
are: Long PR test:
- low generation cost Pseudorandom
- high initial efeciency test:
0 2n-1

Hard
to test
faults
Fault Coverage

Pseudorandom
Using many seeds: test:
0 2n-1

Time

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA

 Course Work. Store-and-Generate BIST
10. Synthesize an optimal BIST, using "store & generate architecture.
Chose for that the best BILBO structure and ja the 100% test with length
N. Minimize the number of seeds to be stored in the memory

ROM TPG UUT

RD
ADR

Counter 2 Counter 1 CL

11. Compare the results in tasks 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10. Which solution is the best
and why? Draw the block-level final structure of the selected best BIST
solution.
12. Present a report of the course work.

Technical University Tallinn, ESTONIA