Skip to main content
Log in

LEAP: An Accurate Defect-Free IDDQ Estimator

  • Published:
Journal of Electronic Testing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The quiescent current (I DDQ) consumed by a CMOS IC is a good indicator of the presence of a large class of defects. However, the effectiveness of I DDQ testing requires appropriate discriminability of defective and defect-free currents, and hence it becomes necessary to estimate the currents involved in order to design the I DDQ test. In this work, we present a method to estimate accurately the non-defective I DDQ consumption based on a hierarchical approach at electrical (cell) and logic (circuit) levels. This accurate estimator is used in conjunction with an ATPG (Automatic Test Pattern Generation) to obtain vectors having low/high defect-free I DDQ currents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+
from $39.99 /Month
  • Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
  • Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
  • Cancel anytime
View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Z. Chen, M. Johnson, L. Wei, and K. Roy, “Estimation of Standby Leakage Power in CMOS Circuits Considering Accurate Modeling of Transistor Stacks,” in Proceedings of the 1998 International Symposium on Low Power Electronics and Design, Monterrey, 1998, pp. 239-244.

  2. A. Ferré and J. Figueras, “On Estimating Bounds of the Quiescent Current for I DDQ Testing,” in Proceedings of 14th VLSI Test Symposium, Princeton, 1996, pp. 106-111.

  3. J. Figueras and A. Ferré, “Possibilities and Limitations of I DDQ in Submicron CMOS,” IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology Part B: Advanced Packaging, Vol. 21, pp. 352-359, Nov. 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  4. A. Gattiker and W. Maly, “Current Signatures: Application,” in Proceedings of the International Test Conference (ITC), Washington, 1997, pp. 156-165.

  5. R.X. Gu and M.I. Elmasry, “Power Dissipation Analysis and Optimization of Deep Submicron CMOS Digital Circuits,” IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 31, pp. 707-713, May 1996

  6. C.F. Hawkins, J.M. Soden, A.W. Righter, and F.J. Ferguson, “Defect-Classes—An Overdue Paradigm for CMOS IC Testing,” in Proceedings of the International Test Conference (ITC), Nashville, 1994, pp. 413-425.

  7. T.H. Henry and T. Soo, “Burn-in Elimination of a High Volume MicroProcessor Using I DDQ,” in Proceedings of the International Test Conference (ITC), Washington, 1996, pp. 242-249.

  8. M.C. Johnson, D. Somasekhar, and K. Roy, “Models and Algorithms for Bounds on Leakage in CMOS Circuits,” IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design, Vol. 18, pp. 714-725, June 1999.

  9. P. Maxwell, P. O'Neill, R. Aitken, R. Dudley, N. Jaarsma, M. Quach, and D. Wiseman, “Current Ratios: A Self-Scaling Technique for Production I DDQ Testing,” in Proceedings of the International Test Conference (ITC), Washington, 1999, pp. 738-746.

  10. P.C. Maxwell and J.R. Rearick, “A Simulation-Based Method for Estimating Defect-Free I DDQ,” in Digest of Papers IEEE International Workshop on IDDQ Testing, Washington, 1997, pp. 80-84.

  11. P.C. Maxwell and J.R. Rearick, “Estimation of Defect-Free I DDQ in Submicron Circuits Using Switch Level Simulation,” in Proceedings of the International Test Conference (ITC), Washington, 1998, pp. 882-889.

  12. T.W. Williams, R.H. Dennard, R. Kapur, M.R. Mercer, and W. Maly, “I DDQ Testing: Sensitivity Analysis of Scaling,” in Proceedings of the International Test Conference (ITC), Washington, 1996, pp. 786-792.

  13. T.W. Williams, R. Kapur, M.R. Mercer, R.H. Dennard, and W. Maly, “I DDQ Testing for High Performance CMOS—The Next Ten Years,” in Proceedings of European Design and Test Conference, Paris, 1996, pp. 578-583.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ferré, A., Figueras, J. LEAP: An Accurate Defect-Free IDDQ Estimator. Journal of Electronic Testing 17, 267–274 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012215412601

Download citation

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012215412601