Patent ID: 6125461
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A method for identifying a path in an integrated circuit that failed in response to a first input signal having a cycle time T of a first duration, comprising:a) applying to the integrated circuit an input signal of a second cycle time, T', greater than the first cycle time, the input signal of the second cycle time not resulting in a failure of the integrated circuit;b) while the integrated circuit is processing the signal of the second cycle time T', observing switching activity in the integrated circuit occurring after a time T measured from the beginning of the signal of the second cycle time until time T' measured from the beginning of the signal of the second cycle time, this time period of observance being defined as .DELTA.T;c) recording the location in the integrated circuit of all switching activity occurring during time period .DELTA.T and determining from the recorded location data the path or paths that resulted in failure of the integrated circuit.