Post Silicon Validation Solutions

Test Evolution Corporation (TEC)

Post-silicon validation (PSV) of first silicon tends to be an ad hoc process, stitching together protocol testers from various manufacturers to create test cases and debug issues. While IC’s are getting to market, the process is far from ideal. Leveraging the tools and methodology of pre-silicon verification into post-silicon validation is a key enabler to higher productivity. Test IP-based PSV is a paradigm shift from the way post-silicon validation is currently done. Individual protocol testers, scopes, miscellaneous equipment from various vendors, and on-chip logic are cobbled together in an attempt to create meaningful stimulus, response checking, and debugging.
The problems with these ad hoc solutions:
Protocol boxes from multiple vendors generally do not work together well. Each has its own driver software, programming model and debugging tools.
Tool flows from pre-silicon to post-silicon to production and back are nonexistent. This makes writing tests challenging and thus generally limited in robustness. Also, debugging suspected problems is difficult across more than one interface.