Method and apparatus for broadcasting scan patterns in a scan-based integrated circuit

Abstract

A broadcaster, system, and method for reducing test data volume and test application time in an ATE (automatic test equipment) in a scan-based integrated circuit. The scan-based integrated circuit contains multiple scan chains, each scan chain comprising multiple scan cells coupled in series. The broadcaster is a combinational logic network coupled to an optional virtual scan controller and an optional scan connector. The virtual scan controller controls the operation of the broadcaster. The system transmits virtual scan patterns stored in the ATE and generates broadcast scan patterns through the broadcaster for testing manufacturing faults in the scan-based integrated circuit. The number of scan chains that can be supported by the ATE is significantly increased. Methods are further proposed to reorder scan cells in selected scan chains, to generate the broadcast scan patterns and virtual scan patterns, and to synthesize the broadcaster and a compactor.

1 - 61 . (canceled) 
   
   
       62 . A method for automatically generating a virtual scan pattern at the broadcast scan inputs of a broadcaster to test a scan-based integrated circuit connected to the broadcaster, the scan-based integrated circuit containing multiple scan chains, each scan chain comprising multiple scan cells coupled in series, the scan chains coupled to the broadcaster, the broadcaster comprising a combinational logic network being directly connected to said broadcast scan inputs, the broadcast scan inputs receiving said virtual scan pattern from an automatic test equipment (ATE) and generating a broadcast scan pattern for driving the scan inputs of said multiple scan chains embedded in the scan-based integrated circuit, said method comprising:
 a) directly incorporating any input constraints imposed by said combinational logic network into an automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) program for generating said virtual scan pattern for one or more selected faults in one-step; and   b) providing said virtual scan pattern to said combinational logic network for driving the scan inputs of said scan-based integrated circuit.   
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein said combinational logic network is selected from one or more logic gates, including AND gates, OR gates, NAND gates, NOR gates, XOR gates, XNOR gates, multiplexers, buffers, inverters, or any combination of the above. 
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 62  wherein said broadcaster further comprises a first scan connector for selectively selecting the outputs of said combinational logic network or selected scan cell outputs of all said scan chains for connection to selected scan inputs of all said scan chains; wherein said first scan connector comprises a multiplexer network, and said multiplexer network is controlled by one or more virtual scan inputs and is loaded with a predetermined state before a test session starts. 
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64  wherein said first scan connector further comprises using a plurality of second scan connectors to connect the outputs of said combinational logic network to selected scan chain inputs in said scan-based integrated circuit, wherein said plurality of second scan connectors include one or more buffers, inverters, lockup elements each comprising a memory element such as flip-flop or latch, spare scan cells, multiplexers, or any combination of the above. 
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 62  wherein said broadcaster further includes a virtual scan controller comprising one or more memory elements, such as flip-flops or latches, for controlling the operation of said broadcaster; wherein said virtual scan controller is controlled by one or more virtual scan inputs and is loaded with a predetermined state before a test session starts. 
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 62 , further comprising means for transmitting said virtual scan patterns from said ATE to said broadcast scan inputs of said broadcaster and means for transmitting said broadcast scan patterns generated by said broadcaster to selected scan data inputs of said scan chains in said scan-based integrated circuit. 
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein said virtual scan controller is a finite-state machine. 
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein said virtual scan controller is a shift register. 
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein said broadcaster further comprises using a compactor for compacting selected outputs of said scan-based integrated circuit for comparison, wherein said compactor is selectively modeled using simulation in said ATE or placed between said scan-based integrated circuit and said ATE. 
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein said compactor is selectively an XOR network or a multiple-input signature register (MISR), wherein said multiple-input signature register (MISR) further comprises a plurality of XOR gates and a plurality of memory elements, such as flip-flops or latches. 
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein said compactor further includes using a mask network to enable or disable testing or diagnosis of selected scan cells in selected scan chains, wherein said mask network includes one or more AND gates. 
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein said compactor is selectively placed within said scan-based integrated circuit or inside said ATE. 
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein said broadcast scan patterns are chosen to test said manufacturing faults, including stuck-at faults, transition faults, path-delay faults, IDDQ (IDD quiescent current) faults, and bridging faults, in said scan-based integrated circuit.