Abstract: Circuits, methods, and systems are provided which facilitate testing of asynchronous circuits having one or more global or local feedback loops. A circuit includes a data path and a scan path. The data path has an input configured to receive a data input signal, and a first output. The scan path includes a first multiplexer having a first input configured to receive the data input signal, a latch coupled to an output of the first multiplexer, a scan isolator coupled to an output of the latch, and a second multiplexer having a first input coupled to the first output of the data path and a second input coupled to an output of the scan isolator. The second multiplexer is configured to output a data output signal.

Abstract: Circuits, methods, and systems are provided which facilitate testing of asynchronous circuits having one or more global or local feedback loops. A circuit includes a data path and a scan path. The data path has an input configured to receive a data input signal, and a first output. The scan path includes a first multiplexer having a first input configured to receive the data input signal, a latch coupled to an output of the first multiplexer, a scan isolator coupled to an output of the latch, and a second multiplexer having a first input coupled to the first output of the data path and a second input coupled to an output of the scan isolator. The second multiplexer is configured to output a data output signal.

Abstract: Various examples of a circuit and a technique for testing the circuit are disclosed herein. In an example, the circuit includes a data input coupled to a scan multiplexer and a path select multiplexer. The circuit further includes a scan-in input coupled to the scan multiplexer and to receive a value of a scan pattern. The circuit further includes a scan latch to store the value that has an input coupled to the scan multiplexer and an output coupled to the path select multiplexer. The scan multiplexer selects a first signal from the data input and the scan-in input and provides the first signal to the input of the scan latch. The path select multiplexer selects a second signal from the data input and the output of the scan latch and provides the second signal to a data output of the circuit.

Abstract: Circuits, methods, and systems are provided which facilitate testing of asynchronous circuits having one or more global or local feedback loops. A circuit includes a data path and a scan path. The data path has an input configured to receive a data input signal, and a first output. The scan path includes a first multiplexer having a first input configured to receive the data input signal, a latch coupled to an output of the first multiplexer, a scan isolator coupled to an output of the latch, and a second multiplexer having a first input coupled to the first output of the data path and a second input coupled to an output of the scan isolator. The second multiplexer is configured to output a data output signal.

Abstract: Circuits, methods, and systems are provided which facilitate testing of asynchronous circuits having one or more global or local feedback loops. A circuit includes a data path and a scan path. The data path has an input configured to receive a data input signal, and a first output. The scan path includes a first multiplexer having a first input configured to receive the data input signal, a latch coupled to an output of the first multiplexer, a scan isolator coupled to an output of the latch, and a second multiplexer having a first input coupled to the first output of the data path and a second input coupled to an output of the scan isolator. The second multiplexer is configured to output a data output signal.

Abstract: Various examples of a circuit and a technique for testing the circuit are disclosed herein. In an example, the circuit includes a data input coupled to a scan multiplexer and a path select multiplexer. The circuit further includes a scan-in input coupled to the scan multiplexer and to receive a value of a scan pattern. The circuit further includes a scan latch to store the value that has an input coupled to the scan multiplexer and an output coupled to the path select multiplexer. The scan multiplexer selects a first signal from the data input and the scan-in input and provides the first signal to the input of the scan latch. The path select multiplexer selects a second signal from the data input and the output of the scan latch and provides the second signal to a data output of the circuit.

Abstract: Various examples of a circuit and a technique for testing the circuit are disclosed herein. In an example, the circuit includes a data input coupled to a scan multiplexer and a path select multiplexer. The circuit further includes a scan-in input coupled to the scan multiplexer and to receive a value of a scan pattern. The circuit further includes a scan latch to store the value that has an input coupled to the scan multiplexer and an output coupled to the path select multiplexer. The scan multiplexer selects a first signal from the data input and the scan-in input and provides the first signal to the input of the scan latch. The path select multiplexer selects a second signal from the data input and the output of the scan latch and provides the second signal to a data output of the circuit.

Abstract: Various examples of a circuit and a technique for testing the circuit are disclosed herein. In an example, the circuit includes a data input coupled to a scan multiplexer and a path select multiplexer. The circuit further includes a scan-in input coupled to the scan multiplexer and to receive a value of a scan pattern. The circuit further includes a scan latch to store the value that has an input coupled to the scan multiplexer and an output coupled to the path select multiplexer. The scan multiplexer selects a first signal from the data input and the scan-in input and provides the first signal to the input of the scan latch. The path select multiplexer selects a second signal from the data input and the output of the scan latch and provides the second signal to a data output of the circuit.

Abstract: A multiple defect diagnosis method includes: receiving a gate-level netlist of a chip, a plurality of test patterns and a plurality of test failure reports; deriving a plurality of seed nets from the gate-level netlist according to the plurality of test patterns and the plurality of test failure reports; utilizing a processor to compute similarity between the plurality of seed nets, and accordingly merging the plurality of seed nets to obtain a single seed net tree; and deriving at least one suspected seed net according to the single seed net tree.

Abstract: A systematic defect analyzing method, includes: partitioning physical sites into groups to obtain a plurality of groups of physical sites according to a plurality of physical features of a chip corresponding to different potential systematic defects; utilizing a processor to compute at least one defect probability of each group of physical sites; and deriving an analysis result according to the plurality of defect probabilities corresponding to the plurality of groups of physical sites.

Abstract: A multiple defect diagnosis method includes: receiving a gate-level netlist of a chip, a plurality of test patterns and a plurality of test failure reports; deriving a plurality of seed nets from the gate-level netlist according to the plurality of test patterns and the plurality of test failure reports; utilizing a processor to compute similarity between the plurality of seed nets, and accordingly merging the plurality of seed nets to obtain a single seed net tree; and deriving at least one suspected seed net according to the single seed net tree.

Abstract: A systematic defect analyzing method, includes: partitioning physical sites into groups to obtain a plurality of groups of physical sites according to a plurality of physical features of a chip corresponding to different potential systematic defects; utilizing a processor to compute at least one defect probability of each group of physical sites; and deriving an analysis result according to the plurality of defect probabilities corresponding to the plurality of groups of physical sites.

Abstract: In a method for creating a clock domain in a layout of an integrated circuit, a test circuit of the integrated circuit includes a plurality of first scan cells and a plurality of second scan cells, the first scan cells are arranged to be on a first scan chain, and the second scan cells are arranged to be on a second scan chain. The method includes: for a first region in the layout, determining whether the first region needs a test clock domain adjustment according to densities of first scan cells and second scan cells within the first region; and when it is determined that the first region needs the test clock domain adjustment, arranging at least one first scan cell within the first region to be on the second scan chain.

Abstract: In a method for creating a clock domain in a layout of an integrated circuit, a test circuit of the integrated circuit includes a plurality of first scan cells and a plurality of second scan cells, the first scan cells are arranged to be on a first scan chain, and the second scan cells are arranged to be on a second scan chain. The method includes: for a first region in the layout, determining whether the first region needs a test clock domain adjustment according to densities of first scan cells and second scan cells within the first region; and when it is determined that the first region needs the test clock domain adjustment, arranging at least one first scan cell within the first region to be on the second scan chain.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dual-rail asynchronous insensitive scan chain circuit designed for test. This scan chain does not require any clock even in scan mode, so it is truly an asynchronous design for testability. The normal function of the asynchronous scan chain can not be affected when removing any clock controls. The handshake protocols between two sequential elements used in the asynchronous scan chain become the scan chain transmission structure, rather than the timing control used in synchronous scan chain in the prior arts. Therefore, both in the function mode and scan mode, the scan chain always operates under the asynchronous condition. It not only can reach a complete test scanning, achieve high fault detection coverage and consume lower power, but also avoid the clock skew problem.