Iterative built-in testing and tuning of mixed-signal/RF systems

Design and test of high-speed mixed-signal/RF circuits and systems is undergoing a transformation due to the effects of process variations stemming from the use of scaled CMOS technologies that result in significant yield loss. To this effect, postmanufacture tuning for yield recovery is now a necessity for many high-speed electronic circuits and systems and is typically driven by iterative test-and-tune procedures. Such procedures create new challenges for manufacturing test and built-in self-test of advanced mixed-signal/RF systems. In this paper, key test challenges are discussed and promising solutions are presented in the hope that it will be possible to design, manufacture and test “truly self-healing” systems in the near future.