Patent ID: 7362121

Claim:
A method comprising: (a) configuring a programmable logic device (PLD) such that a first input/output block (IOB) outputs a test signal through a first microbump, and a second IOB can receive the test signal through a second microbump; (b) monitoring a temperature of the PLD; (c) generating an amount of heat in the PLD by switching a plurality of digital logic elements in the PLD; (d) controlling the switching to achieve a predetermined temperature of the PLD within a predetermined time period; and (e) if a failure occurs, detecting the failure in at least one of the first microbump and the second microbump by detecting that the test signal is not received by the second IOB; wherein the PLD is a packaged PLD having a first solder ball and a second solder ball, and wherein the test signal follows a signal path from the first IOB, through the first microbump, through the first solder ball, through a trace on a printed circuit board, through the second solder ball, through the second microbump and to the second IOB.