Patents by Inventor Klaus-Dieter Hilliges

Klaus-Dieter Hilliges has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11913990
    Abstract: An automated test equipment for testing one or more devices under test, comprises at least one port processing unit, comprising a high-speed-input-output interface, HSIO, for connecting with at least one of the devices under test, a memory for storing data received by the port processing unit from one or more connected devices under test, and a streaming error detection block, configured to detect a command error in the received data, wherein the port processing unit is configured to, in response to detection of the command error, limit the storing in the memory of data following, in the received data, after the command which is detected to be erroneous. A method and computer program for automated testing of one or more devices under test are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Olaf Pöppe, Klaus-Dieter Hilliges, Alan Krech
  • Publication number: 20230100093
    Abstract: An automated test equipment comprises a tester control configured to broadcast and/or specific upload to matching module input data and/or device-specific data including keys and/or credentials and/or IDs and/or configuration information. The automated test equipment further comprises a channel processing unit configured to transform input data using device specific data in order to obtain device-under-test adapted data for testing the device under test. The channel processing unit further configured to process the DUT data using device specific data in order to evaluate the DUT data. A method and a computer program for testing one or more devices under test in an automated test equipment are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Matthias SAUER, Olaf PÖPPE, Klaus-Dieter HILLIGES
  • Patent number: 11415628
    Abstract: An automated test equipment for testing one or more devices under test comprising a plurality of port processing units, comprising at least a respective buffer memory, and a respective high-speed-input-output, HSIO, interface for connecting with at least one of the devices under test. The port processing units are configured to receive data, store the received data in the respective buffer memory, and provide the data stored in the respective buffer memory to one or more of the connected devices under test via the respective HSIO interface for testing the one or more connected devices under test. A method and computer program for automated testing of one or more devices under test are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Olaf Pöppe, Klaus-Dieter Hilliges, Alan Krech
  • Patent number: 11385285
    Abstract: An automated test equipment for testing a device under test comprises an on-chip-system-test controller. The on-chip system test controller comprises at least one debug interface or control interface configured to communicate with the device under test. The on-chip-system-test controller optionally comprises at least one high bandwidth interface configured to communicate with the device under test. The on-chip-system-test controller is configured to control a test of a device-under-test which is a system-on-a chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Olaf Pöppe, Klaus-Dieter Hilliges
  • Publication number: 20210073094
    Abstract: An automated test equipment for testing one or more devices under test, comprises at least one port processing unit, comprising a high-speed-input-output interface, HSIO, for connecting with at least one of the devices under test, a memory for storing data received by the port processing unit from one or more connected devices under test, and a streaming error detection block, configured to detect a command error in the received data, wherein the port processing unit is configured to, in response to detection of the command error, limit the storing in the memory of data following, in the received data, after the command which is detected to be erroneous. A method and computer program for automated testing of one or more devices under test are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Olaf PÖPPE, Klaus-Dieter HILLIGES, Alan KRECH
  • Publication number: 20210055347
    Abstract: An automated test equipment for testing one or more devices under test comprising a plurality of port processing units, comprising at least a respective buffer memory, and a respective high-speed-input-output, HSIO, interface for connecting with at least one of the devices under test. The port processing units are configured to receive data, store the received data in the respective buffer memory, and provide the data stored in the respective buffer memory to one or more of the connected devices under test via the respective HSIO interface for testing the one or more connected devices under test. A method and computer program for automated testing of one or more devices under test are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Olaf PÖPPE, Klaus-Dieter HILLIGES, Alan KRECH
  • Publication number: 20210025938
    Abstract: An automated test equipment for testing a device under test comprises an on-chip-system-test controller. The on-chip system test controller comprises at least one debug interface or control interface configured to communicate with the device under test. The on-chip-system-test controller optionally comprises at least one high bandwidth interface configured to communicate with the device under test. The on-chip-system-test controller is configured to control a test of a device-under-test which is a system-on-a chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Olaf PÖPPE, Klaus-Dieter Hilliges
  • Patent number: 10025648
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor test control system includes a computer system having a plurality of hardware resources; a hypervisor installed on the computer system; and a test floor controller installed on the computer system. The hypervisor virtualizes the hardware resources and provides each of at least one virtual appliance with access to a respective virtual set of hardware resources. Each virtual set of hardware resources places its respective virtual appliance in controlling communication with at least a first aspect of a semiconductor test system, thereby enabling the respective virtual appliance to test a respective type of semiconductor device. The test floor controller is in controlling communication with i) at least a second aspect of the semiconductor test system, and ii) each of the at least one virtual appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Hilliges, Jia-Wei Lin, Duncan Gurley, Xiaomin Jin, Erik Volkerink
  • Patent number: 9317351
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor test control system includes a computer system having a plurality of hardware resources; a hypervisor installed on the computer system; and a test floor controller installed on the computer system. The hypervisor virtualizes the hardware resources and provides each of at least one virtual appliance with access to a respective virtual set of the hardware resources. Each virtual set of the hardware resources places its respective virtual appliance in controlling communication with at least a first aspect of a semiconductor test system, thereby enabling the respective virtual appliance to test a respective type of semiconductor device. The test floor controller is in controlling communication with i) at least a second aspect of the semiconductor test system, and ii) each of the at least one virtual appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Hilliges, Jia-Wei Lin, Duncan Gurley, Jim-my Jin, Eric Vokerink
  • Publication number: 20150370248
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor test control system includes a computer system having a plurality of hardware resources; a hypervisor installed on the computer system; and a test floor controller installed on the computer system. The hypervisor virtualizes the hardware resources and provides each of at least one virtual appliance with access to a respective virtual set of hardware resources. Each virtual set of hardware resources places its respective virtual appliance in controlling communication with at least a first aspect of a semiconductor test system, thereby enabling the respective virtual appliance to test a respective type of semiconductor device. The test floor controller is in controlling communication with i) at least a second aspect of the semiconductor test system, and ii) each of the at least one virtual appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Hilliges, Jia-Wei Lin, Duncan Gurley, Jim-my Jin, Eric Volkerink
  • Publication number: 20140189430
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor test control system includes a computer system having a plurality of hardware resources; a hypervisor installed on the computer system; and a test floor controller installed on the computer system. The hypervisor virtualizes the hardware resources and provides each of at least one virtual appliance with access to a respective virtual set of the hardware resources. Each virtual set of the hardware resources places its respective virtual appliance in controlling communication with at least a first aspect of a semiconductor test system, thereby enabling the respective virtual appliance to test a respective type of semiconductor device. The test floor controller is in controlling communication with i) at least a second aspect of the semiconductor test system, and ii) each of the at least one virtual appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: VERIGY (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Hilliges, Jia-Wei Lin, Duncan Gurley, Jimmy Xiaomin Jin, Erik H. Volkerink
  • Patent number: 7797599
    Abstract: From a logic device comprising logic circuits and a built-in self-test system (BIST) comprising scan chains, diagnostic information is obtained by using the scan chains to apply a stimulus vector to the logic circuits, to capture responses of the logic circuits to the stimulus vector and to shift the captured responses towards the outputs of the scan chains; generating a representative signature representing the responses output by the scan chains; concurrently storing the responses output by the scan chains temporarily such no more than a most-recently output subset of the responses is stored; determining whether the representative signature is a fault-indicating representative signature; and, when the representative signature is a fault-indicating representative signature, outputting at least some of the stored responses. The output responses are usable as diagnostic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Verigy (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ajay Khoche, Klaus-Dieter Hilliges
  • Patent number: 7712000
    Abstract: An ATE system is described for testing one or more DFT testing blocks contained in one or more DUTs when coupled to the ATE system. The ATE system includes hardware resources and software processes under the control of a DPK (Distributed Processing Kernel). The DPK couples the hardware resources and software processes as needed for a first DFT testing block to be enabled for testing only when such resources and processes are available and locked for the first DFT testing block. The DPK is coupled to the first DFT testing blocks via data channels and control channels that are selected as needed for having the first DFT testing block enabled for testing. The channels are under the control of an DUTs-ATE interface which is directed by the DPK for connecting the first DFT testing block to the locked hardware resource and the locked software processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Verigy (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ajay Khoche, Klaus-Dieter Hilliges
  • Patent number: 7590903
    Abstract: An adaptive test system includes one or more reconfigurable test boards, with each test board including at least one re-configurable test processor. The re-configurable test processors can transmit communicate with one another using an inter-processor communications controller associated with each re-configurable test processor. The communications include configuration information, control information, communication protocols, stimulus data, and responses. Configuration information and stimulus data can also be read from a memory. Configuration information is used to configure one or more re-configurable test processors. Once configured, the re-configurable test processor or processors process the data in order to generate one or more test signals. The one or more test signals are then used to test a DUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Verigy (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Erik Volkerink, Hugh S. C. Wallace, Klaus-Dieter Hilliges, Ajay Khoche, Jochen Rivoir
  • Patent number: 7571363
    Abstract: A phase comparator is used to test a device under test comprising an input/output (I/O) circuit by applying a signal to the device under test; extracting a phase signal from the phase comparator; and determining parametric information pertaining to the I/O circuit of the device under test from the phase signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh S. Wallace, Adrian Wan-Chew Seet, Klaus-Dieter Hilliges
  • Patent number: 7386777
    Abstract: Representative embodiments are generally directed to storing compressed test pattern data on an automated test equipment (ATE) device. In one embodiment, the test pattern data is compressed according to a linear feedback shift register (LFSR). The LFSR may possess a low probability of occurrence of linear dependencies associated with compression of stimulus patterns to enable relatively highly compacted patterns to be compressed. Additionally or alternatively, repeat-filled test pattern data is run length encoded using variable length code words to facilitate parallel decompression within the ATE device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Verigy (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Erik H. Volkerink, Klaus-Dieter Hilliges
  • Publication number: 20080104461
    Abstract: An ATE system is described for testing one or more DFT testing blocks contained in one or more DUTs when coupled to the ATE system. The ATE system includes hardware resources and software processes under the control of a DPK (Distributed Processing Kernel). The DPK couples the hardware resources and software processes as needed for a first DFT testing block to be enabled for testing only when such resources and processes are available and locked for the first DFT testing block. The DPK is coupled to the first DFT testing blocks via data channels and control channels that are selected as needed for having the first DFT testing block enabled for testing. The channels are under the control of an DUTs-ATE interface which is directed by the DPK for connecting the first DFT testing block to the locked hardware resource and the locked software processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Ajay Khoche, Klaus-Dieter Hilliges
  • Publication number: 20080092003
    Abstract: From a logic device comprising logic circuits and a built-in self-test system (BIST) comprising scan chains, diagnostic information is obtained by using the scan chains to apply a stimulus vector to the logic circuits, to capture responses of the logic circuits to the stimulus vector and to shift the captured responses towards the outputs of the scan chains; generating a representative signature representing the responses output by the scan chains; concurrently storing the responses output by the scan chains temporarily such no more than a most-recently output subset of the responses is stored; determining whether the representative signature is a fault-indicating representative signature; and, when the representative signature is a fault-indicating representative signature, outputting at least some of the stored responses. The output responses are usable as diagnostic information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Ajay Khoche, Klaus-Dieter Hilliges
  • Publication number: 20080077836
    Abstract: From a memory device comprising a built-in self-test system (BIST), diagnostic information is obtained by using the BIST to write a test pattern at a memory location in the memory device and to read a respective output pattern from the memory location; comparing the output pattern with a corresponding expected pattern identical to the test pattern, the comparing providing a fault indication when the output pattern differs from the expected pattern; temporarily storing a diagnostic pattern corresponding to the output pattern such that diagnostic patterns corresponding to no more than a most-recently read subset of output patterns are stored; and outputting at least some of the stored diagnostic patterns in response to the comparing providing the fault indication. The most-recently read subset out put patterns consists of output patterns read from fewer than all the memory locations in the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: A. Jay Khoche, Klaus-Dieter Hilliges
  • Publication number: 20080077834
    Abstract: From a memory device comprising a memory circuit and a built-in self-test system (BIST), diagnostic information is deterministically obtained by using the BIST to perform a test sequence that tests the memory circuit. The test sequence comprises writing one or more test patterns at memory locations in the memory circuit and reading respective output patterns from the memory locations. Diagnostic patterns corresponding to the output patterns are losslessly compressed to generate compressed diagnostic information. The compressed diagnostic information is temporarily stored and, at one or more predetermined points in the test sequence, the compressed diagnostic information is output from the memory device under test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Ajay Khoche, Klaus-Dieter Hilliges