It’ s important to realize that even though we usually don’t state it explicitly, DUT developers have been embedding IP t est cores (IPTCs) in their devices for many years. These IPTCs can be rather simple in nature when they support low-level built-i n-t est (BIT) functionalities. They can be more complex when supporting externally stimulated and controlled boundary-t est functions, where multiple vectors and combinations can be used to verify the overall performance of a DUT through interactions limited at the I/O level.
This scenario is becoming even more common in software-defined devices, in which the test interface is enacted mostly through intelligent software interaction between the DUT and the TE. Here, the optimal performance of the DUT’s built-in test capabilities will only be achieved when the TE can “see beyond,” and effectively communicate with, the DUT’s/TE’s interfaces. Again, this implies close collaboration and coordinated road map and development activities between the DUT developer and the TE provider.
From these considerations, one could argue that in this rapidly changing environment, traditional test solutions based on multiple, individually tailored instruments won’t be able to keep pace with the rate of change in design, test, and maintenance requirements, as well as test ensemble complexity. In fact, engineering roles are rapidly merging.
There’ s an urgent need for a DFT&M solution that can adapt rapidly to the performance requirements of new devices. This new test system will also enable custom measurements that aren’t rigidly bound by specific functionalities and human- interface characteristics associated with traditional test equipment.
In this scenario, truly synthetic solutions allow the DFT&M engineer to work seamlessly from inception to maintenance of products. This highly integrated, modular, software-driven synthetic architecture also favors proactive and cost-effective management of obsolescence by limiting impact to single, integrated modules, not the entire test system.
As synthetic test solutions gain acceptance and rapidly expand their foothold, it’ s necessary to ensure that the DFT&M engineer selects truly synthetic systems, with hybrid integration capability to accommodate various standards (Fig. 4) .
In general, proven synthetic test system solutions are provided by companies that also routinely develop and integrate system components. These companies have experience and expertise in integrating all system elements within a fully calibrated, synchronized, and traceable-to-standard test environment. Only in this case, a truly synthetic (i.e., measurement-based) system will perform accurately, reliably, and consistently, delivering a truly superior DFT&M solution.
Ultimately, we all know that fully synthetic, measurement-based, highly integrated, software-configurable, adaptive test environments are the way of the future.