Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Method for optimally connecting scan segments in two-dimensional compression chains

Abstract:

Methods and computer-readable media for testing integrated circuit designs implement a physically efficient scan by optimally balancing and connecting scan segments in a 2-dimensional compression chain architecture. A compression architecture that provides an optimal and balanced configuration of scan segments in 2D compression grids to not only decrease test time, but also to maximize compression efficiency and limit wiring congestion for IC designs that contain complex scan segments facilitates efficient scanning of data by bisecting the elements into balanced partitions of the same target scan length. A segment padding algorithm, followed by a bisecting algorithm and ultimately an element swapping algorithm may be applied to optimally balance and connect scan segments in 2-D compression chains, optimizing an efficient compression architecture which minimizes scan testing resources and time.