REAL TIME TEST
The Real-Time Testing offer aims at exposing a circuit in a real environment and check how many errors due to natural radiative conditions or product packaging are detected.
The value proposition is to be as close as possible to the real life conditions, therefore creating the most accurate test.
Such test allows detecting effects of:
- Neutron particles - from atmospheric environment
- Alpha particles - generated by chip packaging - in the context of tests in cave or at a different altitude.
Test can be performed in high altitude to take benefit from the acceleration factor on atmospheric neutrons. Alpha-related tests are done in cave or at different altitude to get rid of the neutron natural radiations effects, or modify it.
Such test implies to consider both a large number of chips (e.g. 500) and a long test time (e.g. 6 months), in order to get a relevant error statistics (number of errors). Each test configuration will imply the development of a complex hardware configuration and thorough monitoring of the radiative environment: atmospheric pressure, temperature, building structure, snow cap (for altitude test), cosmic events (solar flares).
The steps considered to implement such service are:
- Define and develop the hardware configuration needed to perform the tests
- Install the test configuration (altitude, cave)
- Remotely monitor the test execution (e.g. Error counts)
- Provide analysis report
A check for integrity of the test setup design is perform through alpha particle testing on a small test board . It allows to validate the real-time test configuration before manufacturing and installation at altitude test facility. This is recommended for complex chips. More
In all cases, cave testing (for cosmic neutron free environment) is presented as an option and should not be considered as part of the base package.
Such kind of test applies to all type of chips.
Deliverables to the customer:
| Offer | Deliverable | Description |
| Base | Test Plan | Description of tests that will be performed . Success criteria to be defined |
| Status Reports | Reports describing the test status and current results - Once a week | |
| Test Report | Report describing the test results and analysis and the end of test campaign | |
| Option | Test Plan Add-on | Additional environment test description to be included into the Test plan |
| Test Report Add-on | Additional environment test analysis provided into the test report |