Design-for-test circuit for low pin count devices
US7274203B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 2005 |
| Grant date | Sep 25, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/3172
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A design-for-test (DFT) circuit for an integrated circuit (IC) for enabling accurate quiescent current testing. The IC includes a voltage supply pin, a ground pin and an internal voltage regulator coupled between the voltage supply and ground pins for providing an internal output voltage. The DFT circuit includes a voltage storage device which couples to the voltage regulator to temporarily maintain the internal output voltage when the voltage regulator is disabled. The mode control circuit detects a quiescent current test mode, disables the voltage regulator and decouples the voltage regulator from the voltage storage device when the quiescent current test mode is detected. The DFT circuit may include an enable circuit which generates a freeze signal when the quiescent current test mode is detected, and at least one switch which decouples the voltage regulator from the voltage storage node. The DFT circuit is particularly useful for low pin-count ICs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.