Review of software tools to support computer-aided testing of digital circuits

This paper reviews the requirements and status of software to support the generation of test vectors for a digital circuit and the subsequent conversion into a working test program on ATE. The paper focuses on: language systems to describe circuit topology, circuit behaviour and waveforms; test pattern generation techniques; evaluation by fault simulation; postprocessing to ATE; and engineering workstation user interfaces. The conclusion comments on the need for an integrated design and test environment, based on the same tool set and data structure.