A method and system for efficiently coding test pattern for ICs in scan
design and build-in linear feedback shift register (LFSR) for
pseudo-random pattern generation. In an initialization procedure, a novel
LFSR logic model is generated and integrated into the system for test
data generation and test vector compression. In a test data generation
procedure, test vectors are specified and compressed using the LFSR logic
model. Every single one of the test vectors is compressed independently
from the others. The result, however, may be presented all at once and
subsequently provided to the user or another system for further
processing or implementing in an integrated circuit to be tested.
According to the present invention a test vector containing 0/1-values
for, e.g., up to 500.000 shift registers and having, e.g., about 50 so
called care-bits can be compressed to a compact pattern code of the
number of care-bits, i.e., 50 bits for the example of 50 care-bits.