Layout-aware test pattern generation and fault detection

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for assigning faults to nets in an integrated circuit (IC), wherein each net comprises a drive pin, a set of load pins, and a fan-out structure that electrically couples the drive pin to the set of load pins, the method comprising:

• partitioning a fan-out structure of a net into a set of non-overlapping subnets and a set of branch nodes, wherein each branch node electrically couples three or more non-overlapping subnets;
• representing each branch node by using a subnet primitive, wherein each subnet primitive comprises three or more pins that are electrically coupled to non-overlapping subnets that are electrically coupled by the branch node;
• and
• assigning a fault to a pin of a subnet primitive that is electrically coupled to a non-overlapping subnet, thereby modeling the fault in the non-overlapping subnet.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform a method for assigning faults to nets in an integrated circuit (IC), wherein each net comprises a drive pin, a set of load pins, and a fan-out structure that electrically couples the drive pin to the set of load pins, and wherein the method comprises:
• partitioning a fan-out structure of a net into a set of non-overlapping subnets and a set of branch nodes, wherein each branch node electrically couples three or more non-overlapping subnets;
• representing each branch node by using a subnet primitive, wherein each subnet primitive comprises three or more pins that are electrically coupled to non-overlapping subnets that are electrically coupled by the branch node;
• and
• assigning a fault to a pin of a subnet primitive that is electrically coupled to a non-overlapping subnet, thereby modeling the fault in the non-overlapping subnet.