POY8.JAN–CrossCheck Technology, Inc.–RP
IDDQ test development software requires no DFT structures
The CurrenTest test development software was introduced as the industry's first IDDQ tool that did not require DFT structures, thereby imposing no area, speed, and power overhead. The product is particularly suited for high-volume ASICs or custom CMOS ICs, where silicon cost is a primary concern, and DFT structures cannot be used.
IDDQ refers to the quiescent power supply current in a CMOS circuit. In defect-free CMOS VLSI circuits, IDDQ should be less than an empirically determined limit. A defect that causes IDDQ to be in excess of the limit–such as transistor-level shorts and metal bridging–is a leakage fault. IDDQ testing involves the measurement of quiescent power supply current to detect such faults. Typical IDDQ testing requires the use of scan cells and other on-chip structures to test the device.
CurrenTest automatically selects a small number of functional vectors with high fault coverage, from a user-provided existing set, for IDDQ measurements. The vector selection process minimizes test time and avoids operational conditions that might otherwise cause excessive IDDQ leakage, eliminating false “fault” conditions.
With CurrenTest, fault observation takes place at the power supply current terminal which, in turn, is connected to each of the macro cells within the circuit. The tool determines if there is a defect in a macro cell by monitoring the IDDQ output at the terminal; moreover, the defect need not be propagated to an output. The software is available on Sun SparcStation and SparcServer platforms. (From $25,000.)
CrossCheck Technology, Inc.
San Jose, CA
Vic Kulkarni 408-432-9200
Fax 408-432-0907
CAPTION:
The CurrenTest IDDQ test tool achieves higher levels of quality for ICs without the overhead of design-for-test structures, such as scan cells.
Product: CurrenTest Test Development Software
Contact: Vic Kulkarni
Title: Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Programs
Address: CrossCheck Technology, Inc., 2833 Junction Ave., Suite 100, San Jose, CA, 95134
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