ProTest: a low cost rapid prototyping and test system for ASICs and FPGAs

Abstract

The test bench methodology helps the design engineer to structure the simulation of his circuit. As showed in this paper, the test bench methodology can further be developed in, order to efficiently reuse simulation stimuli and response for the real device under test. As FPGAs are very often used to prototype an ASIC design, an easy switch between simulation and real hardware test is necessary to establish a rapid prototyping design and test environment. Our ProTest system closes the gap between the simulation and the test environment with a low cost and easy to use computer-aided-test environment.