A parallel approach for testing multi-port static random access memories

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach for testing multiport memories. This approach is based on the parallel execution of the testing process so that inter-port faults (shorts and coupling faults) can be detected at no loss of coverage and with no increase in the number of tests compared with a single-port memory. The parallelization is based on partitioning the memory into so-called segments. Test is completed in several phases. In each phase, the operation of a port is restricted to a segment. A port assignment process is utilized together with the partitioning of the memory; it considers the functionalities of the ports and their relation with respect to the addresses and the placement of the cells.