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Course contents

  • How to Use This Course
  • DFT Metrics Reference
  • DFT Glossary
  • Reading Path
  • Scan Fundamentals61
  • Compression & Diagnosis61
  • ATPG & Pattern Generation61
  • MBIST & LBIST61
  • Boundary Scan & JTAG61
  • Test Timing & Power61
    • Test-Mode SDC
    • Shift vs Capture Timing
    • Test Power & IR
    • Test Signoff Reports
      • Test Signoff Reports: Mechanism
      • Test Signoff Reports: Inputs & Outputs
      • Test Signoff Reports: Reports & Metrics
      • Test Signoff Reports: Debug Playbook
      • Test Signoff Reports: Worked Example
      • Test Signoff Reports: Pitfalls & Red Flags
      • Test Signoff Reports: Interview Drills
      • Test Signoff Reports: Review Checklist
      • Test Signoff Reports: Theory Deep Dive
      • Test Signoff Reports: Design Space
      • Test Signoff Reports: Expanded Case Study
      • Test Signoff Reports: Step-by-Step Walkthrough
      • Test Signoff Reports: Comparison Matrix
      • Test Signoff Reports: Software / Programmer View
      • Test Signoff Reports: Silicon PPA Impact
    • Test Timing & Power: Tricky Q&A
  • DFT Physical Integration61
  • DFT Interview Prep61
  • DFT / ATPG Cheatsheet
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‹Test Signoff Reports
  1. Topics
  2. Design for Test
  3. Test Timing & Power
  4. Test Signoff Reports
  5. Test Signoff Reports: Inputs & Outputs

DFT / ATPG · All levels

Test Signoff Reports: Inputs & Outputs

Inputs & Outputs for Test Signoff Reports.

On this page

    Inputs and outputs contract

    Inputs & Outputs for Test Signoff Reports focuses on test readiness score, unresolved waivers, production release risk. The goal is to convert metric movement into mechanism, owner, and release decision.

    Treat these as a release contract. Ambiguity here creates expensive debug loops because teams optimize against different assumptions.

    Diagram
    INPUTS
      - scan/ATPG architecture and constraints
      - fault model and quality target policy
      - pattern generation config + tester limits
      - timing/power/physical assumptions
    
    OUTPUTS
      - quality metrics and closure status
      - signed artifacts and owner approvals
      - diagnosis evidence for residual risk
      - release, waiver, or escalation decision

    Flow sequence

    Diagram
    DFT FLOW - Test Signoff Reports
    
    scan insertion -> chain stitch -> compression map -> ATPG -> tester apply -> diagnosis
          |                |                |            |             |
     controllability   shift balance    channel use   coverage     silicon correlation
    
    Primary metric: test readiness score, unresolved waivers, production release risk

    Ownership map

    Diagram
    OWNERSHIP MAP - Test Signoff Reports
    
    artifact              owner
    ----------------      -----------------
    architecture/report DFT lead
    constraints/setup   product engineering lead
    physical/test       program lead
    
    Name an owner for each failing metric cluster.

    DFT deep dive

    Test signoff fails when shift/capture timing and test power are treated independently.

    Concept diagram

    Diagram
    TEST SIGNOFF LOOP
    
    test SDC -> shift/capture timing -> power-aware ATPG -> IR validation -> release

    Metric graph

    Diagram
    TEST CURRENT
    
    functional current  baseline
    scan shift current  peak-risk zone

    Reports and artifacts

    • test-mode STA report

    • shift/capture split

    • test power IR map

    • waiver tracker

    Mini case study

    At-speed patterns passed timing but failed in production due to peak shift IR; staggered capture and power-aware fill resolved.

    Debug branches

    • Tag test and functional corners separately

    • Check hold in shift mode

    • Correlate fail bins with power hotspots

    Senior review question

    Ask: what evidence proves this DFT decision is safe for production?

    Key takeaways

    • State metric, lot/corner context, and pattern tag with every claim.

    • Treat timing, power, and quality as one signoff problem.

    Common pitfalls

    • Chasing coverage without legality checks.

    • Ignoring test-power side effects of pattern changes.

    • Debugging silicon without reproducible tags.

    Principal DFT review addendum

    Test signoff consolidates coverage, timing, power, and diagnosis evidence into a release decision with explicit ownership and waivers.

    Metric: test readiness score, unresolved waivers, production release risk

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    See also

    • Test Signoff Reports: Debug Playbook
    • Test Signoff Reports: Worked Example
    • Test Signoff Reports: Pitfalls & Red Flags