CASTOR: a computer aided system testability optimizer

CASTOR is an expert module that solves testability problems detected in a hardware design by advising the designer on the application of design for testability techniques. The system evaluates all possible solutions and implements the most economic one in terms of overheads. The optimal solution is obtained by applying a branch and bound strategy to carry out the exhaustive search of the best solution, optimizing system resources. A suitable cost function is used to quantify the effects of the application of each DfT technique to the circuit examined