ASIC testing upgraded: the demand for quality parts in short development times is forcing digital ASIC designers to use nontraditional testing methods
Article Abstract:
ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits), which are customized circuits usually put together from libraries of predesigned circuits, are easier and faster to design than ordinary integrated circuits, but as demand for both quality and fast turnaround continues to increase, adequate testing has become a problem. Engineers are starting to use nontraditional testing methods such as scan design, built-in self testing and massive observability, looking for cost-effective ways to ensure ASIC quality. A complete economics model would be helpful for choosing the best testing and design techniques. Time-to-market and quality costs are factors that are often not considered. In fact, being late with a product and downstream detection are known to be very costly. Various techniques are available that can facilitate high productivity and quick turnaround without any loss in quality. A comparison of such testing methods is provided.
Publication Name: IEEE Spectrum
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 0018-9235
Year: 1992
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Expert opinion: the key to better measurements is software
Article Abstract:
Measurement equipment changes over the years with technological advances and the shift from analog to digital instruments. The typical test instrument features a signal generator, data acquisition arrangement and data processing. Data processing impacts the eventual outcome of the measurement however users sometimes fail to grasp the significance of the results and sometimes use the instruments inefficiently. Adding a simple expert system to the measuring equipment helps to reduce the danger of equipment misuse and helps users obtain safe measurements. Use of digital signal processing (DSP) helps simplify and enhance test instrument circuitry. Software-controlled DSP circuits are used more often and offer increased flexibility and customization through proprietary algorithms.
Publication Name: IEEE Spectrum
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 0018-9235
Year: 1993
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Logic synthesis speeds ASIC design
Article Abstract:
Logic synthesis tools are being embraced by designers because they can automate the translation of high-level descriptions into logic designs while decreasing the circuit's area and increasing its speed. Designers can formulate their designs using a hardware description language (HDL), and the synthesis tools will produce the gate level netlists. HDL's allow designers to use synthesis tools to translate an RTL description into a netlist. Logic synthesis tools are proving quite valuable in the ever competitive race to make circuits smaller and faster. Optimization applications such as this point the way to the day when designers will be able to automate design from concept to layout.
Publication Name: IEEE Spectrum
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 0018-9235
Year: 1989
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