Path Sensitization, Partial Boolean Difference, and Automated Fault Diagnosis

A tool employed in automated fault diagnosis is emphasized: path sensitization by partial Boolean difference analysis. Motivated by the analogy between a test system and a communication system, a model for fault detection of a logic net is outlined from the standpoint of information theory. The classical ``path sensitizing´´ technique is made systematic using the partial Boolean difference. This technique is based on a new theorem on the partial Boolean difference. Finally, a programmable fault detection algorithm is presented along with an example.