Digital Systems Testing and Testable Design: Bridging Reliability and Complexity
Testing isn't just about checking if a device turns on. It’s about identifying physical manufacturing defects, such as stuck-at faults (a wire permanently tied to high or low voltage), bridging faults (unintended shorts), and timing errors digital systems testing and testable design solution
The reliability of digital systems is paramount in an era where computing permeates safety-critical applications, from autonomous vehicles to medical devices. However, the manufacturing process of integrated circuits (ICs) is imperfect; defects caused by dust particles, material impurities, or photolithography misalignments are inevitable. defects caused by dust particles
To combat these challenges, engineers integrate test-specific hardware into the design itself. The most prevalent solutions include: bridging faults (unintended shorts)
: Designing systems with independent modules and clear interfaces to simplify isolated testing Controllability and Observability