A semiconductor device is provided with: a first circuit; a plurality of pattern generators connected to the first circuit and each supplying a test pattern to the first circuit; a pattern-generator control circuit controlling each of the plurality of pattern generators; a pattern compressor compressing a result output from the first circuit in response to supply of the test patterns from the plurality of pattern generators; a pattern-compressor control circuit controlling the pattern compressor; and a self-diagnosis control circuit connected to the pattern-generator control circuit and the pattern-compressor control circuit, and controlling the pattern-generator control circuit such that stop timings of the test patterns differ from one another among the plurality of pattern generators.

A microcontroller includes a data memory configured to store test signal data. The microcontroller further includes a signal generator configured to process the test signal data in order to provide at least one test signal. The microcontroller also includes a circuit under test configured to process the test signal. The test signal data includes at least one pattern snippet and an associated pattern descriptor. The pattern snippet includes data concerning a content of a part of the test signal. The associated pattern descriptor includes data concerning a pattern formed by the pattern snippet within the test signal.

The invention relates to a microchip with a multiplicity of reconfigurable test structures, wherein the microchip has a test input (TDI) and a test output (TDO), wherein the multiplicity of test structures can be connected to the test input (TDI) and the test output (TDO), wherein one intermediate memory is provided for each of the multiplicity of test structures, wherein each of the multiplicity of test structures can be tested separately and concurrently with the aid of the respective intermediate memory and a corresponding individual control.

Systems and methods for a sequential decompressor which builds equations predictably provide a first-in, first out (“FIFO”) shift register which is fed by a first XOR decompressor and provides outputs to a second XOR decompressor.

Systems and methods efficiently bring additional variables into a Pseudo-Random Pattern Generator (“PRPG”) in the early cycles of an automatic test pattern generation (“ATPG”) process without utilizing any additional hardware or control pins. Overscanning (e.g., scanning longer than the length of the longest channel) for some additional cycles brings in enough variables into the PRPG. Data corresponding to earlier cycles of the ATPG process is removed.

Embodiments include methods, and computer system, and computer program products for performing system functional test on a chip having partial-good portions. Aspects include: initializing, by system functional test software, a service engine of the chip, performing, by service engine, system functional test, and completing system functional test of chip. The chip may include service engine, a service engine memory and one or more “partial-good” portions. The initializing may include: loading system functional test software into the service engine memory, identifying each “partial-good” portion of the chip, writing a “partial-good” parameter for each “partial-good” portion of the chip identified to service engine memory, and triggering execution of system functional test. Method may include: decoding system functional test software, retrieving “partial-good” parameters, initializing “partial-good” portions of chip, and performing system functional test on “partial-good” portions of chip. The chip may include is a processor chip that has one or more “partial-good” cores.

A tester including an interface configured to interface with an electronic device and a logic circuit. The logic circuit includes a pattern generator and at least one finite-state machine and is configured to sequentially acquire read data from the electronic device at sequential testing points of a testing range for evaluating an operating parameter of the electronic device or the tester until a set of consecutive passing points having a first passing point and a last passing point is identified, in response to identifying the first passing point, write data within the logic circuit of the tester identifying the first passing point, in response to identifying the second passing point, write data within the logic circuit of the tester identifying the second passing point, and output only data identifying the first passing point and data identifying the last passing point to a software application.

A failure diagnostic apparatus includes a path calculation unit which calculates, for each input pattern to a diagnosis target cell, a path affecting an output value of the diagnosis target cell when a failure is assumed as an activation path, a path classification unit which classifies the activation path associated with the input pattern for which the diagnosis target cell has passed a test and the activation path associated with the input pattern for which the diagnosis target cell has failed the test, a path narrowing unit which calculates a first failure candidate path, a second failure candidate path and a normal path of the diagnosis target cell based on classified activation paths, and a result output unit which outputs information on the first failure candidate path, the second failure candidate path and the normal path.

A failure diagnostic apparatus includes a path calculation unit which calculates, for each input pattern to a diagnosis target cell, a path affecting an output value of the diagnosis target cell when a failure is assumed as an activation path, a path classification unit which classifies the activation path associated with the input pattern for which the diagnosis target cell has passed a test and the activation path associated with the input pattern for which the diagnosis target cell has failed the test, a path narrowing unit which calculates a first failure candidate path, a second failure candidate path and a normal path of the diagnosis target cell based on classified activation paths, and a result output unit which outputs information on the first failure candidate path, the second failure candidate path and the normal path.

A system for testing a circuit comprises scan chains, a controller configured to generate a bit- inverting signal based on child test pattern information, and bit-inverting circuitry coupled to the controller and configured to invert bits of a parent test pattern associated with a plurality of shift clock cycles based on the bit-inverting signal to generate a child test pattern during a shift operation. Here, the plurality of shift clock cycles for bit inverting occur every m shift clock cycles, and the child test pattern information comprises information of m and location of the plurality of shift clock cycles in the shift operation.