Efficient march test for 3-coupling faults in random access memories

A new efficient march test algorithm for detecting the 3-coupling faults in Random Access Memories (RAM) is given in this paper. To reduce the length of the test algorithm only the 3-coupling faults between physically adjacent memory cells have been considered. The proposed test algorithm needs 38N operations. We have proved, using an Eulerian graph model, that the algorithm detects all non-interacting coupling faults. This paper also comprises a study about the ability of the algorithm to cover the interacting coupling faults. Simulation results with regard to the coupling fault coverage of the march tests, obtained based on a fault injection mechanism, are also presented in this paper. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.