Test throughput for mixed-signal devices

Abstract

We encounter mixed-signal system-on-a-chip (SOC) devices in our daily lives in a broad range of products. Consumer products like PDAs, automobiles, and appliances all contain microcontrollers, battery management, and power chips; these can be mixed-signal devices. We use broadband products such as set-top boxes, cable modems, DSL, and DVD players that contain mixed-signal devices. Wireless products, cordless phones, cellular phones, WLAN, Bluetooth, GPS receivers, and cable tuners also contain mixed-signal SOC devices. The content of the mixed-signal SOC device is characterized by different types of cores. They may be analog cores or digital cores. Many applications include mixed analog and digital cores such as digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). These devices can provide complete system functionality on a single chip. Figure 1 is an example of a multimedia SOC device.