Method for determining the impact on test coverage of scan chain parallelization by analysis of a test set for independently accessible flip-flops

1. A method of testing comprising the steps of:

generating a test pattern set for testing a serial scan chain configuration including bit positions, the test pattern set including at least one test pattern including bits each associated with a bit position of the serial scan chain configuration;

rearranging the serial scan chain configuration into a plurality of parallel scan chains that share an input pin, including flip-flops corresponding to each of the bit positions of the first scan chain configuration;

analyzing the test pattern set for compatibility with the plurality of parallel scan chains that share an input pin, wherein compatibility exists if all flip-flops at a given bit position in each of the plurality of parallel scan chains contain an identical specified logical value and wherein an unspecified value may be specified to the identical specified logical value; and

generating a new test pattern set in response to analyzing the test pattern set for compatibility with the plurality of parallel scan chains.

2. A method of testing as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of analyzing the test pattern set for compatibility is performed with a linear-time method.

3. A method of testing as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of comparing each of the bits in the bit position to the flip-flops corresponding to the bit position and determining if there is a conflict in response to the step of comparing.

4. A method of testing as set for in claim 1 , wherein the parallel scan chain configuration is an Illinois scan chain configuration.

5. A method of testing as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the parallel scan chain configuration further comprises parallel scan segments that share an input pin.

6. A method of testing as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the test pattern set is tested using the serial scan chain configuration to generate faults.

7. A method of testing as set forth in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bits is unspecified.

8. A method of testing as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of the bits is specified.

9. A method of testing as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the majority of bits in the test pattern set are unspecified.

10. A method of testing as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the majority of bits in the test pattern set are unspecified and wherein the majority of bits in the test pattern set that are unspecified may be converted to a logical state that would comply with the requirements imposed by a parallel scan segment configuration.

11. A method of testing as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the test pattern set is generated without constraints.

12. A method of testing as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of analyzing the test pattern set for compatibility further comprises the step of generating a list of faults detected by the test pattern set.

13. A method of testing as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of generating a new test pattern set further comprises the step of generating a proposed grouping of flip-flops into parallel scan segments.

14. A testing apparatus comprising:

means for generating a test pattern set compatible with a serial scan chain configuration including bit positions, the test pattern set including at least one test pattern including bits each associated with a bit position of the serial scan chain configuration;

means for computing rearrangement of the serial scan chain configuration into a plurality of parallel scan chains that share an input pin, including flip-flops corresponding to the bit positions of the serial scan chain configuration;

means for analyzing the test pattern set for compatibility with the plurality of parallel scan chains that share an input pin, wherein compatibility exists if all flip-flops at a given bit position in each of the plurality of parallel scan chains contain an identical specified logical value and wherein an unspecified value may be specified to the identical specified logical value; and

means for generating a new test pattern set in response to analyzing the test pattern set for compatibility with the plurality of parallel scan chains.

15. A memory storing computer instructions, the computer instructions causing a computer to generate test patterns, the computer instructions comprising:

instructions for generating a test pattern set compatible with a serial scan chain configuration including bit positions, the test pattern set including at least one test pattern including bits each associated with a bit position of the serial scan chain configuration;

instructions for computing rearrangement of the serial scan chain configuration into a plurality of parallel scan chains that share an input pin, including flip-flops corresponding to the bit positions of the serial scan chain configuration;

instructions for analyzing the test pattern set for compatibility with the plurality of parallel scan chains that share an input pin, wherein compatibility exists if all flip-flops at a given bit position in each of the plurality of parallel scan chains contain an identical specified logical value and wherein an unspecified value may be specified to the identical specified logical value; and

instructions for generating a new test pattern set in response to analyzing the test pattern set for compatibility with the plurality of parallel scan chains.

16. A memory as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the computer instructions are implemented with software.

17. A memory as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the computer instructions are implemented with hardware.

18. A memory as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the computer instructions are implemented as an automated test pattern generator.