IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,081,058
Granted Patent B2
US 9,081,058 · App. 13/842,370 · Granted Jul 14, 2015

Scan test circuit, test pattern generation control circuit, and scan test control method

Inventors: Hirofumi Yonetoku (Yokohama, JP); Norihiro Yamada (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
G01R31/3177G01R31/31858G01R31/318541G01R31/318552
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,081,058
App. No.
13/842,370
Granted
Jul 14, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

To improve a delay fault coverage without increasing an area overhead, provided is a scan test circuit including: scan flip-flops forming a clock domain that operates according to the same clock within a semiconductor integrated circuit including a target of a delay fault test; a test pattern generation mode control unit (scan flip-flop) that is supplied with the same clock as that supplied to the scan flip-flops, and selects one of a skewed-load mode and a broadside mode as a test pattern generation mode of the delay fault test; and a scan enable signal output unit (OR gate) that outputs a first scan enable signal, which is determined based on the test pattern generation mode, to the scan flip-flops.

Claims (91)

1. A scan test circuit comprising:

a plurality of flip-flop circuits forming a clock domain that operates according to a same clock within a semiconductor integrated circuit including a target of a delay fault test;

a test pattern generation mode control unit that is supplied with the same clock as the clock supplied to the plurality of flip-flop circuits, and selects one of a skewed-load mode and a broadside mode as a test pattern generation mode of the delay fault test; and

a scan enable signal output unit that outputs a first scan enable signal to the plurality of flip-flop circuits, the first scan enable signal being determined based on the test pattern generation mode.

2. The scan test circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the scan enable signal output unit performs an OR operation using, as input values, the first scan enable signal and a second scan enable signal output from an external circuit, and outputs a result of the OR operation to the plurality of flip-flop circuits as a third scan enable signal.

3. The scan test circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising a toggle value control unit that performs a scan-shift operation on a toggle value set to cause a value held in a first flip-flop circuit to transit and outputs the toggle value to the first flip-flop circuit,

wherein when the test pattern generation mode is the skewed-load mode, the first flip-flop circuit holds the value to be output to a path serving as the target of the delay fault among the plurality of flip-flop circuits.

4. The scan test circuit according to claim 3 , wherein when the test pattern generation mode is the broadside mode, the first flip-flop circuit operates to enable use of a value output from a combinational circuit as the toggle value, the combinational circuit being configured to perform an operation with a combination of values output from the plurality of flip-flop circuits.

5. The scan test circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the test pattern generation mode control unit comprises a reset-function-equipped multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit.

6. The scan test circuit according to claim 3 , wherein the toggle value control unit comprises one of a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit and a D-flip-flop circuit.

7. The scan test circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising a capture-clock-time scan enable control unit provided to an input unit of the test pattern generation mode control unit,

wherein during the skewed-load mode:

the test pattern generation mode control unit causes the first scan enable signal to transit according to a launch clock, and

the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit operates to cause the first scan enable signal to transit according to a capture clock.

8. The scan test circuit according to claim 7 , wherein:

the test pattern generation mode control unit comprises a D-flip-flop circuit, and

the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit.

9. A test pattern generation control circuit comprising:

a test pattern generation mode control unit that is supplied with a clock identical to a clock supplied to a plurality of flip-flop circuits forming a clock domain operating according to a same clock within a semiconductor integrated circuit including a path serving as a target of a delay fault test, and selects one of a skewed-load mode and a broadside mode as a test pattern generation mode of the delay fault test; and

a scan enable signal output unit that outputs a first scan enable signal to the plurality of flip-flop circuits, the first scan enable signal being determined based on the test pattern generation mode.

10. The test pattern generation control circuit according to claim 9 , wherein the scan enable signal output unit performs an OR operation using, as input values, the first scan enable signal and a second scan enable signal output from an external circuit, and outputs a result of the OR operation to the plurality of flip-flop circuits as a third scan enable signal.

11. The test pattern generation control circuit according to claim 9 , further comprising a toggle value control unit that performs a scan-shift operation on a toggle value set to cause a value held in a first flip-flop circuit to transit and outputs the toggle value to the first flip-flop circuit,

wherein when the test pattern generation mode is the skewed-load mode, the first flip-flop circuit holds the value to be output to the path serving as the target of the delay fault among the plurality of flip-flop circuits.

12. The test pattern generation control circuit according to claim 11 , wherein when the test pattern generation mode is the broadside mode, the first flip-flop circuit operates to enable use of a value output from a combinational circuit as the toggle value, the combinational circuit being configured to perform an operation with a combination of values output from the plurality of flip-flop circuits.

13. The test pattern generation control circuit according to claim 9 , wherein the test pattern generation mode control unit comprises a reset-function-equipped multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit.

14. The test pattern generation control circuit according to claim 11 , wherein the toggle value control unit comprises one of a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit and a D-flip-flop circuit.

15. The test pattern generation control circuit according to claim 9 , further comprising a capture-clock-time scan enable control unit provided to an input unit of the test pattern generation mode control unit,

wherein during the skewed-load mode:

the test pattern generation mode control unit causes the first scan enable signal to transit according to a launch clock, and

the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit operates to cause the first scan enable signal to transit according to a capture clock.

16. The test pattern generation control circuit according to claim 15 , wherein:

the test pattern generation mode control unit comprises a D-flip-flop circuit, and

the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit.

17. A scan test control method comprising:

supplying a clock identical to a clock supplied to a plurality of flip-flop circuits that form a clock domain operating according to a same clock within a semiconductor integrated circuit including a path serving as a target of a delay fault test, and selecting one of a skewed-load mode and a broadside mode as a test pattern generation mode of the delay fault test; and

outputting a scan enable signal to the plurality of flip-flop circuits, the scan enable signal being determined based on the test pattern generation mode.

18. The scan test circuit according to claim 7 , further comprising a capture-clock-time gated clock control unit that controls the clock supplied to the plurality of flip-flop circuits,

wherein during the skewed-load mode, the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit operates to prevent the capture clock from being supplied to the plurality of flip-flop circuits when the flip-flop circuits are controlled to capture data through a scan-in terminal based on the first scan enable signal.

19. The scan test circuit according to claim 18 , wherein:

the test pattern generation mode control unit comprises a D-flip-flop circuit,

the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit, and

the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit, a combinational circuit, and a clock gating cell.

20. The test pattern generation control circuit according to claim 15 , further comprising a capture-clock-time gated clock control unit that controls the clock supplied to the plurality of flip-flop circuits,

wherein during the skewed-load mode, the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit operates to prevent the capture clock from being supplied to the plurality of flip-flop circuits when the flip-flop circuits are controlled to capture data through a scan-in terminal based on the first scan enable signal.

21. The test pattern generation control circuit according to claim 20 , wherein:

the test pattern generation mode control unit comprises a D-flip-flop circuit,

the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit, and

the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit, a combinational circuit, and a clock gating cell.

22. The scan test circuit according to claim 18 , wherein:

a clock gating cell of the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit is provided in a logic circuit unit controlled using the test pattern generation mode control unit, and

during the skewed-load mode, when the plurality of flip-flop circuits is controlled to capture data through the scan-in terminal based on the first scan enable signal, the clock gating cell operates to prevent the capture clock from being supplied to the plurality of flip-flop circuits.

23. The scan test circuit according to claim 22 , wherein:

the test pattern generation mode control unit comprises a D-flip-flop circuit,

the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit, and

the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit and a combinational circuit.

24. The scan test circuit according to claim 22 , wherein:

the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit acquires a delay fault test mode signal for switching between a delay fault test mode and a stuck-at fault test mode, and

during the skewed-load mode, when the delay fault test mode is activated, the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit operates to prevent the capture clock from being supplied to the plurality of flip-flop circuits when the flip-flop circuits are controlled to capture data through the scan-in terminal based on the first scan enable signal.

25. The scan test circuit according to claim 24 , wherein:

the test pattern generation mode control unit comprises a -flip-flop circuit,

the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit, and

the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit comprises a D-flip-flop circuit and a combinational circuit.

26. The scan test circuit according to claim 24 , wherein:

a clock gating cell is provided in the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit, and

during the skewed-load mode, when the plurality of flip-flop circuits is controlled to capture data through the scan-in terminal based on the first scan enable signal, the clock gating cell operates to prevent the capture clock from being supplied to the plurality of flip-flop circuits.

27. The scan test circuit according to claim 26 , wherein:

the test pattern generation mode control unit comprises a D-flip-flop circuit,

the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit, and

the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit comprises a D-flip-flop circuit, a combinational circuit, and a clock gating cell.

28. The scan test circuit according to claim 18 , further comprising:

a first delay fault test pattern generation control circuit including the test pattern generation mode control unit and the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit; and

a second delay fault test pattern generation control circuit including the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit.

29. The scan test circuit according to claim 28 , wherein:

the test pattern generation mode control unit comprises a D-flip-flop circuit,

the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit, and

the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit, a D-flip-flop circuit, a combinational circuit, and a clock gating cell.

30. The test pattern generation control circuit according to claim 20 , further comprising:

a first delay fault test pattern generation control circuit including the test pattern generation mode control unit and the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit; and

a second delay fault test pattern generation control circuit including the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit.

31. The test pattern generation control circuit according to claim 30 , wherein:

the test pattern generation mode control unit comprises a D-flip-flop circuit,

the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit, and

the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit, a D-flip-flop circuit, a combinational circuit, and a clock gating cell.

32. The scan test circuit according to claim 24 , wherein the clock gating cell of the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit is caused to operate based on an externally supplied clock enable signal.

33. The scan test circuit according to claim 32 , wherein:

the test pattern generation mode control unit comprises a D-flip-flop circuit,

the capture-clock-time scan enable control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit, and

the capture-clock-time gated clock control unit comprises a multiplexer-type scan flip-flop circuit, a combinational circuit, and a clock gating cell.

34. A scan test control method comprising:

supplying a clock identical to a clock supplied to a plurality of flip-flop circuits that form a clock domain operating according to a same clock within a semiconductor integrated circuit including a path serving as a target of a delay fault test, and selecting one of a skewed-load mode and a broadside mode as a test pattern generation mode of the delay fault test; and

outputting a scan enable signal to the plurality of flip-flop circuits to stop a supply of an unwanted capture clock signal to the plurality of flip-flop circuits, the scan enable signal being determined based on the test pattern generation mode.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044928/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2013
From: YONETOKU, HIROFUMI; YAMADA, NORIHIRO
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030173/0807 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2012-065077 · Mar 22, 2012 · national
JP 2012-223947 · Oct 9, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130254609A1 · Sep 26, 2013