Patent ID: 7053648
Filing Date: 2006-05-30
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. An improved apparatus for testing an integrated circuit device under test (DUT) having a power input terminal for receiving current for powering the DUT, input terminals for receiving test signals, and output terminals for forwarding output signals that the DUT generates in response to the test signals, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of tester channels for generating the test signals and for processing the DUT's output signals to determine how the DUT's output signals behave, a plurality of power modules, wherein each power module has a power output terminal and includes a power supply having a power supply output terminal connected to the power module's power output terminal, and the power supply is operative to develop a supply voltage at the power supply output terminal and to deliver an output current to the power supply output terminal, and a device interface structure for delivering the test signals from the tester channels to the DUT's input terminals, for delivering the DUT's output signals to the tester channels, and for delivering output current from the power output terminal of each power module to the DUT's power input terminal, and wherein the improvement resides in that: the device interface structure includes a control signal conductor for delivering a control signal to at least some of the power modules, and each power module that receives the control signal is responsive to the control signal to adjust at least one of the supply voltage developed at the power module's power output terminal and the output current delivered to the power module's power output terminal.