Patent · US Active

Method and system for correcting timing errors in high data rate automated test equipment

US8156396B1 · kind B1 · utility

1Cited by
10References
27Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 5, 2010
Grant dateApr 10, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 5, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R31/31922
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system and method for reducing timing errors in automated test equipment (ATE) offering increased data rates for the testing of higher-speed integrated circuits. Embodiments provide an effective mechanism for increasing the data rate of an ATE system by delegating processing tasks to multiple test components, where the resulting data rate of the system may approach the sum of the data rates of the individual components. Each component is able to perform data-dependent timing error correction on data processed by the component, where the timing error may result from data processed by another component in the system. Embodiments enable timing error correction by making the component performing the correction aware of the data (e.g., processed by another component) causing the error. The data may be shared between components using existing timing interfaces, thereby saving the cost associated with the design, verification and manufacturing of new and/or additional hardware.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.