Bottom-up testing methodology for VLSI

A testing methodology for digital VLSI circuits is proposed that is based on the definition of a realistic fault list, which depends on the technology, the manufacturing process, and the IC layout. Automatic fault listing is carried out by a hierarchical layout-to-fault extractor, LIFE. Fault-list compression is performed according to user-defined fault listing objectives. Test-pattern validation is made by an accurate switch-level fault simulator with timing information capabilities, SWIFT. The methodology and the correspondent software tools can be used in the IC design and production testing environments. At present, the two software tools are to be included in the ICD tool box, in a workstation-based IC design environment.<
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