Phase-Shifter Functional Safety Testing

An electronic device, comprising:

• an integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit comprises:
• a circuit sub-block configured to perform a function, wherein the circuit sub-block is implemented in an analog domain using analog components and in a digital domain using digital components;
• wherein the integrated circuit is configured to perform testing of the circuit sub-block using independent testing of individual components in the circuit sub-block instead of testing the function of the circuit sub-block as a whole;
• wherein the individual components comprise the analog components and the digital components;
• and
• wherein the circuit sub-block comprises a variable-gain amplifier, the variable-gain amplifier comprises a Gilbert cell, and the testing comprises performing measurements at different gain values of the variable-gain amplifier using a replica circuit that includes a second Gilbert cell.

A method for performing testing of a circuit sub-block, comprising:

• by an integrated circuit:
• performing testing of a circuit sub-block in the integrated circuit using independent testing of individual components in the circuit sub-block instead of testing the function of the circuit sub-block as a whole, wherein the circuit sub-block performs a function and is implemented in an analog domain using analog components and in a digital domain using digital components;
• and wherein the individual components comprise the analog components and the digital components;
• and
• assessing the circuit sub-block based at least in part on results of the testing and a ratio of detectable potential faults in a given component in the circuit sub-block to a total number of potential faults in the given component, wherein the circuit sub-block comprises a variable-gain amplifier, the variable-gain amplifier comprises a Gilbert cell, and the testing comprises performing measurements at different gain values of the variable-gain amplifier using a replica circuit that includes a second Gilbert cell.