Board-level diagnosis by signature analysis

Board-level diagnostic techniques by signature analysis based on single-error-correcting Hamming codes over GF(2^M) (where M is the number of outputs per chip) are presented. Two techniques are considered: the space-time compressor technique for the case when responses from N chips on the board are wired to the compressor; and the time compressor technique for the case when test responses from each chip are transferred to the compressor via system bus. Assuming a single-faulty-chip model, a faulty chip on the board under test is located by an analysis of the relationship between the distortions in the obtained signatures. Both techniques for board-level diagnosis require less hardware than the straightforward diagnostic techniques using a built-in signature analyzer for every chip or selective testing of each chip via the system bus, hence offering an efficient approach for a design of a built-in-self-test board for for manufacturing testing