Abstract: Electrical fuses (eFuses) are applied to the task of memory performance adjustment to improve upon earlier fuse techniques by not requiring an additional processing step and expensive equipment. Standard electrical fuse (eFuse) hardware chains provide a soft test feature wherein the effect of memory slow-down can be tested prior to actually programming the fuses. Electrical fuses thus provide a very efficient non-volatile method to match the logic-memory interface through memory trimming, drastically cutting costs and cycle times involved.

Abstract: Scan and Scan-BIST architectures are commonly used to test digital circuitry in integrated circuits. The present invention improves upon low power Scan and Scan-BIST methods. The improvement allows the low power Scan and Scan-BIST architectures to achieve a delay test capability equally as effective as the delay test capabilities used in conventional scan and Scan-BIST architectures.

Abstract: The pBIST solution to memory testing is a balanced hardware-software oriented solution. pBIST hardware provides access to all memories and other such logic (e.g. register files) in pipelined logic allowing back-to-back accesses. The approach then gives the user access to this logic through CPU-like logic in which the programmer can code any algorithm to target any memory testing technique required. Because hardware inside the chip is used at-speed, the full device speed capabilities are available. CPU-like hardware can be programmed and algorithms can be developed and executed after tape-out and while testing on devices in chip form is in process.

Abstract: Electrical fuses (eFuses) are applied to the task of memory performance adjustment to improve upon earlier fuse techniques by not requiring an additional processing step and expensive equipment. Standard electrical fuse (eFuse) hardware chains provide a soft test feature wherein the effect of memory slow-down can be tested prior to actually programming the fuses. Electrical fuses thus provide a very efficient non-volatile method to match the logic-memory interface through memory trimming, drastically cutting costs and cycle times involved.