SER TEST FAQ

Accelerated test Frequently Asked Questions

Real time test Frequently Asked Questions

System test Frequently Asked Questions

Accelerated test Frequently Asked Questions

What type of tester is iroC using to run accelerated tests?

Our team has developped a specific tester that responds to the specific requirement of component accelerated SER testing. It is a device that consists of reconfigurable hardware and a bundle of software for programming the tester, retrieving the data, and analyzing the results.For each device, a custom daughter board is designed and manufactured, which will hold only the DUT (Device Under Test) and connectors to the tester. Thid daughter board is the only part of the test setup that will be positionned in the particles beam flux. Back to the top

Is STB a universal design to test different devices?

STB allows testing of memories as well as processors
STB provides 320 IOs that can be used as single-ended or differential IOs
STB connects to the DUT through coax cables to keep STB away from the beam. It has an universal design: a DUT socket, Board-to-Cable connectors, power supply decoupling capacitors, and resistors for impedance adaptation.
If the DUT has a low amount of pins, it is possible to put several DUT sockets in a single test board, so as to test devices in parallel. Back to the top

What kind of test pattern is STB capable of?

If programmable, who will write the program?

STB is programmable and is capable of static as well as dynamic test patterns. The user can define the checkerboard and the way the tests are conducted, including reads or pauses during irradiation.
In addition STB provides a set of well known March dynamic test algorithms, such as SCAN, MATS+/++, MARCH_A/B/C/M/LR. The test program is written in C language and VHDL.
The test program can be developed either by the customer or by iRoC, in all cases starting from a predefined template. Back to the top

What type of information is reported by STB during the test?

STB logs all data related to failed bits including :

Failed address
Failed data word
Type of error (soft error, transient error, stuck bit,latch up, and many more)
Timestamp

These data are logged in text format through a serial port connected to PC to allows the data collection. Back to the top

Can STB test at different temperatures ? At different voltages?

STB provides temperature regulation capability in the range 5 to 100^oC based in Peltier cooling/heating devices.
A thermocouple is installed on the device for temperature reading.
STB can change the DUT voltage during the test from 0 to 3.6V. Back to the top

What is the minimum cycle time and timing resolution?

Taking into account the cable length between STB and the DUT, STB provides signals to the DUT at a maximum frequency of 100 MHz. Therefore the timing resolution is 10 ns. Back to the top

What features of the power supply are available?

Power supply to the DUT is delivered by off-the-shelf power supplies with remote programming capability. STB controls up to 15 power supplies linked in a GPIB or RS-485 bus. The power supply voltages and current ratings are selected based on the DUT power supply requirements. Furthermore, the power supply provides programmable over-current shutdown so as to protect the DUT against latch-up induced by radiation. Back to the top

What is the price range for SERTEST?

Because iRoC is organized in a highly flexible way, service can be customized at the client's request. Price will therefore be adjusted to the level of work accomplished in a way that will always propose the most cost-effective, high quality service in the industry. Back to the top

Real time test Frequently Asked Questions

How many device-hours should a real time test last?

It depends on the sensitivity of the device and the environment in which the test is run. The real metric is the accuracy of the results. The more upsets are collected, the better the accuracy is. Therefore, for higher accuracy, a larger amount of devices and/or a higher elevation of the test site are recommended. Back to the top

How do I get the results of a real time test?

During a real time test is under way, Customers will receive from iRoC a weekly report on the number of errors that occurred, the location of the errors, the FIT rate and the statistics (accuracy of the result). Back to the top

System test Frequently Asked Questions

What is a System Soft Error Test ?

The System Testing offer is linked to system house companies' deliverables or end products. The base object to be tested is typically a system board or a whole device (cell phone, control box) which includes a large variety of chips (e.g. SRAM, T-CAM, SoC, FPGA, ...) and complex functionalities.
The value proposition is a sign-off radiation test for complex systems, in its final functioning modes.
The objective here is to identify how radiations impact the global system MTBF. This is achieved by exposing the system to be tested to a radiative source while the system is running its application (either regular or test-specific).

This test has multiple goals:

Failure analysis: recreate an error seen in the field, and understand the source of it.
Recovery Procedure analysis: create errors and measure the time to recovery and other performances of the recovery procedure.
Measure the contribution of one particular component to the failure mode of the whole system. This test can therefore help determining derating factors. Back to the top

What is iRoC contribution to System Soft Error Test ?

System Soft Error Test involves the designer of the System in the design of experiment and in running the test itself. The diagnosis tools and error pattern analysis are also the responsibility of the System designer.

iRoC is usually involved in the following tasks:

- Inform and train the Clients engineers about safety rules before the test campaign.
- Make sure that everyone and everything is compliant with the safety rules during the test.
- Make sure the Clients engineers follow the safety rules during the campaign.
- Review the actual error count method (observation modes) and suggest improvement for a better detection for the campaign.
- Prepare operations with the test facility for handling and mounting the experiment, as well as insuring remote connection to the setup.
- Make sure the logistics for equipment reception, handling and mounting work well at the facility.
- Audit the dosimetry part of the test, and bring solutions to provide the best measurement of fluence per test condition.
- One iRoC senior engineer will be dedicated to Client at the site during the whole campaign.
- Collect the neutron fluence data and synchronize with test schedule.
- Support Client for setting up and dismantling the experiment. Back to the top

What size of equipment can fit into the beam area ?

The three test facilities where System Test are taking place are TRIUMF (UBC, Vancouver), TSL (Uppsala, Sweden) and WNR (Los Alamos, NM). All facilities can accomodate large size systems with different beam characterisitcs (neutron energy, flux). The size of the beam can be up to 1 m in diameter. For larger dimensions, please contact us. Back to the top