Defect Oriented Testing for CMOS Analog and Digital Circuits

Book excerpt: Defect oriented testing is expected to play a significant role in coming generations of technology. Smaller feature sizes and larger die sizes will make ICs more sensitive to defects that can not be modeled by traditional fault modeling approaches. Furthermore, with increased level of integration, an IC may contain diverse building blocks. Such blocks include, digital logic, PLAs, volatile and non-volatile memories, and analog interfaces. For such diverse building blocks, traditional fault modeling and test approaches will become increasingly inadequate. Defect oriented testing methods have come a long way from a mere interesting academic exercise to a hard industrial reality. Many factors have contributed to its industrial acceptance. Traditional approaches of testing modern integrated circuits (ICs) have been found to be inadequate in terms of quality and economics of test. In a globally competitive semiconductor market place, overall product quality and economics have become very important objectives. In addition, electronic systems are becoming increasingly complex and demand components of highest possible quality. Testing, in general and, defect oriented testing, in particular, help in realizing these objectives. Defect Oriented Testing for CMOS Analog and Digital Circuits is the first book to provide a complete overview of the subject. It is essential reading for all design and test professionals as well as researchers and students working in the field. `A strength of this book is its breadth. Types of designs considered include analog and digital circuits, programmable logic arrays, and memories. Having a fault model does not automatically provide a test. Sometimes, design for testability hardware is necessary. Many design for testability ideas, supported by experimental evidence, are included.' ... from the Foreword by Vishwani D. Agrawal