CAD

SymFony: a Hybrid Topological-Symbolic ATPG exploiting RT-level Information

F. Corno P. Prinetto M. Sonza Reorda M. Violante U. Glaeser H. T. Vierhaus

IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design, February 1999, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 191-202

ABSTRACT

Combining different techniques for sequential ATPG can help overcoming their respective limits and exploiting their advantages. In this paper, a hybrid technique resulting from mixing topologic and symbolic approaches to the sequential ATPG problem is presented. Macros are first identified within the circuit (possibly resorting to RT-level knowledge of circuit architecture). Information about macro behavior is then computed and efficiently stored resorting to symbolic techniques. A topological tool exploits this information during the ATPG process to speed-up the propagation task and to early identify unsuccessful choices. Experimental results are reported, demonstrating that the method is able to improve the efficiency of a topological ATPG in terms of required CPU time and attained Fault Coverage, especially on medium-sized control-dominated circuits.


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[CPSV99] F. Corno, P. Prinetto, M. Sonza Reorda, M. Violante, U. Glaeser, H. T. Vierhaus, "SymFony: a Hybrid Topological-Symbolic ATPG exploiting RT-level Information," IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design, February 1999, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 191-202