Symmetry-based A/M-S BIST (SymBIST): Demonstration on a SAR ADC IP

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a defect-oriented Built-In Self-Test (BIST) paradigm for analog and mixed-signal (A/MS) Integrated Circuits (ICs), called symmetry-based BIST (Sym-BIST). SymBIST exploits inherent symmetries into the design to generate invariances that should hold true only in defect-free operation. Violation of any of these invariances points to defect detection. We demonstrate SymBIST on a 65nm 10-bit Successive Approximation Register (SAR) Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) IP by ST Microelectronics.