Balancing Test Requirements with SOC Security

Balancing Test Requirements with SOC Security
by Tom Simon on 03-17-2022 at 6:00 am

Secure Test for SOCs

Typically, there is an existential rift between the on-chip access requirements for test and the need for security in SoCs. Using traditional deterministic scan techniques has meant opening up full read and write access to the flops in a design through the scan chains. Having this kind of access easily defeats the best designed… Read More


Tessent Streaming Scan Network Brings Hierarchical Scan Test into the Modern Age

Tessent Streaming Scan Network Brings Hierarchical Scan Test into the Modern Age
by Tom Simon on 11-15-2021 at 10:00 am

Streaming Scan Network

Remember when you had to use dial up internet or parallel printer cables connected directly to the printer to print something? Well even if you don’t remember these things, you know that now there is a better way. Regrettably, the prevalent methods used for hierarchical Design for Test (DFT) still look at lot like this – SoC level … Read More


EUROPEAN TEST SYMPOSIUM 2021 – VIRTUAL

EUROPEAN TEST SYMPOSIUM 2021 – VIRTUAL
by Admin on 05-17-2021 at 11:53 am

The IEEE European Test Symposium (ETS) is Europe’s premier forum dedicated to presenting and discussing scientific results, emerging ideas, applications, hot topics and new trends in the area of electronic-based circuits and system testing, reliability, security and validation.

In 2021, ETS will be organised virtually … Read More


Bringing Hierarchy to DFT

Bringing Hierarchy to DFT
by Tom Simon on 01-30-2020 at 6:00 am

Tessent Hierarchical Flow

Hierarchy is nearly universally used in the SoC design process to help manage complexity. Dealing with flat logical or physical designs proved unworkable decades ago. However, there were a few places in the flow where flat tools continued to be used. Mentor lead the pack in the years around 1999 in helping the industry move from … Read More


ITC shines light on new Mentor Test announcements

ITC shines light on new Mentor Test announcements
by Tom Simon on 11-18-2019 at 10:00 am

The 50th International Test Conference was just held in Washington DC, where papers, sessions, workshops and announcements addressing the increasing complexity and expanding use of semiconductors showed that innovations in test are crucial to design and product success. Test methodologies and even the scope of test have … Read More


Automotive Market Pushing Test Tool Capabilities

Automotive Market Pushing Test Tool Capabilities
by Tom Simon on 07-09-2019 at 8:00 am

It’s easy to imagine that the main impetus for automotive electronics safety standards like ISO 26262 is the emergence of autonomous driving technology. However, even cars that do not offer this capability rely heavily on electronics for many critical systems. These include engine control, braking, crash sensors, and stability… Read More


Mentor’s Busy ITC and Major Test Product Updates

Mentor’s Busy ITC and Major Test Product Updates
by Tom Simon on 10-31-2018 at 1:00 pm

In conjunction with the 2018 International Test Conference, Mentor has several interesting test announcements. They also have a busy round of technical activities, including a number of technical papers, presentations, tutorials and a poster from a major customer about using Mentor. I’d like to touch on the two product related… Read More


Time is Money, Especially when Testing ICs

Time is Money, Especially when Testing ICs
by Daniel Payne on 05-24-2017 at 12:00 pm

Semiconductor companies are looking for ways to keep their business profitable by managing expenses on both the design and test side of electronic products, which is quite the challenge as the trends show increases in test pattern count and therefore test costs. Scan compression is a well-known technique first created over 15… Read More


Virtual Modeling Drives Auto Systems TTM

Virtual Modeling Drives Auto Systems TTM
by Bernard Murphy on 03-27-2017 at 7:00 am

The electronics market for automotive applications is distinguished by multiple factors. This is a very fast growing market – electronics now account for 40% of a car’s cost, up from 20% just 10 years ago. New technologies are gaining acceptance, for greener and safer operation and for a more satisfying consumer experience. Platforms… Read More