Signal Probability-Based Test Cube Reordering And Merging

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions for causing one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:

• determining a first score and a second score for each scan cell based on numbers of test cubes in a set of test cubes having a specified value of “1” and a specified value of “0” for the each scan cell, respectively;
• determining a ranking score for each test cube in the set of test cubes based on combining the first scores and the second scores corresponding to specified bits of the each test cube in the set of test cubes;
• and
• generating test patterns, comprising:
• merging test cubes in the set of test cubes according to a sequence based on the ranking scores.

A system, comprising:

• one or more processors, the one or more processors programmed to perform a method, the method comprising:
• determining constant-output-value gates and buffer gates for gates in a circuit design based on a hold-toggle pattern, wherein each of the constant-output-value gates represents one or more gates in the circuit design, each of the buffer gates represents one or more gates in the circuit design, and the hold-toggle pattern determines in which shift clock cycles in a segment of consecutive shift clock cycles one or more scan chains receive bits based on corresponding bits of a test pattern or same bits as bits of previous shift clock cycles during a shift operation;
• determining activation probabilities and observation probabilities for circuit nodes of the circuit design based at least in part on the constant-output-value gates and the buffer gates;
• and
• generating test patterns based on the activation probabilities and the observation probabilities.