Why cellular automata are better than LFSRs as built-in self-test generators for sequential-type faults

Author

Zhang, S. ; Byrne, R. ; Muzio, J.C. ; Miller, D.M.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Comput. Sci., Victoria Univ., BC, Canada

Volume

1

fYear

1994

fDate

30 May-2 Jun 1994

Firstpage

69

Abstract

This paper presents a combinatorial method of evaluating the effectiveness of linear hybrid cellular automata (LHCA) and linear feedback shift registers (LFSR) as generators for stimulating faults requiring a pair of vectors. We provide a theoretical analysis and empirical comparisons to see why the LHCAs are better than the LFSRs as generators for sequential-type faults in a built-in self-test (BIST) environment. Based on the concept of a partner set, the method derives the number of distinct k-cell substate vectors which have 2^2k, 1⩽k⩽[n/2], transition capability for an n-cell LFSR and an n-cell LFSR with maximum length cycles. Simulation studies of the ISCAS85 benchmark circuits provide evidence of the effectiveness of the theoretical metric

Keywords

built-in self test; cellular automata; combinational circuits; delays; fault diagnosis; finite state machines; logic testing; ISCAS85 benchmark circuits; built-in self-test generators; combinatorial method; distinct k-cell substate vectors; linear feedback shift registers; linear hybrid cellular automata; maximum length cycles; partner set; sequential-type faults; transition capability; Benchmark testing; Built-in self-test; Circuit faults; Circuit simulation; Circuit testing; Computer science; Feedback; Hybrid power systems; Sequential analysis; Vectors;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Circuits and Systems, 1994. ISCAS '94., 1994 IEEE International Symposium on

Conference_Location

London

Print_ISBN

0-7803-1915-X

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ISCAS.1994.408757

Filename

408757