Patent · US Active

Test method using memory programmed with tests and protocol to communicate between device under test and tester

US8170828B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
6References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 5, 2009
Grant dateMay 1, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 17, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R31/31726
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In an embodiment, a test method is implemented to test an integrated circuit that includes at least one processor. The method may include programming a memory to which the integrated circuit is coupled during testing with one or more test programs. The integrated circuit may be booted, and the processor may execute the test programs from the memory. In one embodiment, the memory may also store a control program that may manage the execution of the tests. In an embodiment, the control program may also implement a protocol to communicate with the ATE to perform the testing. The protocol may be implemented over a set of general purpose input/output (I/O) pins, for example. Using the protocol and test vectors on the ATE, the tests may be selected and executed, and test results may be reported.

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