Parallel testing of integrated circuits

1. A method for testing in parallel several identical integrated circuit chips with an asynchronous operation, via two physical contacts between a tester and each of the chips, comprising:

transmitting on the tester side a first test control signal for the integrated circuit chips;

having the test executed in desynchronized fashion by each of the integrated circuit chips;

transmitting on the tester side, after a predetermined time interval following the transmission of the first control signal, a second result request control signal to the integrated circuit chips; and

having all chips respond synchronously upon reception of said second control signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time interval is selected to be longer than the maximum execution time of the test steps by any integrated circuit chip.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein an integrated circuit chip receiving said first control signal sets, after desynchronized execution of the test steps, to a state ready to accept a synchronized answer control signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the test is considered as being negative as soon as the expected binary answer differs from a predetermined data word stored on the tester side.

5. A system for testing by twin-wire contact a set of identical integrated circuit chips in parallel fashion, comprising:

a plurality of physical contact pairs intended to contact pads of the respective chips; and

a device capable of implementing the method of claim 1 .

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein each integrated circuit chip to be tested is capable of interpreting at least one control signal to switch to a synchronous operating mode.

7. A method for testing in parallel several integrated circuit chips designed for asynchronous operation, using two physical contacts between a tester and each of the chips, comprising:

transmitting, from the tester a first test control signal to the integrated circuit chips;

having the test executed by each of the integrated circuit chips without the synchronizing operation of the integrated circuit chips;

transmitting, from the tester, after a time interval following the transmission of the first test control signal, a second result request control signal to the integrated circuit chips; and

having all chips respond synchronously upon reception of said second control signa.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the time interval is selected to be longer than the maximum execution time of the test steps by any integrated circuit chip.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein an integrated circuit chip receiving said first control signal sets, after execution of the test steps, to a state ready to accept a synchronized answer control signal.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the test is considered as being negative as soon as the expected binary answer differs from a data word stored on the tester side.

11. A system for testing a set of identical integrated circuit chips in parallel, comprising:

a plurality of physical contact pairs intended to contact pads of the respective chips; and

a device capable of:

transmitting, from the tester a first test control signal to the integrated circuit chips;

having the test executed by each of the integrated circuit chips without synchronizing operation of the integrated circuit chips;

transmitting, from the tester, after a time interval following the transmission of the first test control signal, a second result request control signal to the integrated circuit chips; and

having all chips respond synchronously upon reception of said second control signal.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein each integrated circuit chip to be tested is capable of interpreting at least one control signal to switch to a synchronous operating mode.