Test generation for crosstalk-induced faults: framework and computational results

Abstract

Due to technology scaling and increasing clock frequency, problems due to noise effects are leading to an increase in design/debugging efforts and a decrease in circuit performance. This paper addresses the problem of efficiently and accurately generating two-vector tests for crosstalk-induced effects, such as pulses, signal speedup and slowdown, in digital combinational circuits. We have developed a mixed-signal test generator, called XGEN, that incorporates classical static values as well as dynamic signals such as transitions and pulses, and timing information such as signal arrival times, rise/fall times and gate delay. In this paper, we first discuss the general framework of the test generation algorithm followed by computational results. A comparison of our results with SPICE simulations confirms the accuracy of this approach.