Unified SOC test approach based on test data compression and TAM design

Abstract

Test access mechanism (TAM) optimisation and test data compression lead to a reduction in test data volume and testing time for SOCs. In this paper, we integrate for the first time both these approaches into a single test methodology. We show how an integrated test architecture based on TAMs and test data decoders can be designed. The proposed approach offers considerable savings in test resource requirements. Two case studies using the integrated test architecture are presented. Experimental results on test data volume reduction, savings in test application time and the low test pin overheads for a benchmark SOC demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.