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DFT Training – Design for Testability Course (Scan, ATPG, JTAG, MBIST)

Design for Testability (DFT) involves using advanced test techniques such as Scan, ATPG, JTAG, MBIST, LBIST and Test Compression to improve hardware testability. These techniques are essential for identifying manufacturing defects like stuck-at faults, transition delay faults, path delay faults, and other structural defects in ASIC and SoC designs.

This industry-oriented DFT Training course is designed to provide in-depth exposure to complete DFT flow, Scan architecture, ATPG pattern generation, Debug methodologies, and Diagnosis techniques used in semiconductor companies.

What You Will Learn in DFT Training

  • DFT fundamentals and testability concepts
  • Different fault models: Stuck-at, Transition Delay, Path Delay faults
  • SoC Scan Architecture and various Scan types
  • Scan insertion and Hierarchical Scan Design
  • ATPG DRC Debug and ATPG Simulation Debug
  • Test Compression techniques (TestKompress)
  • DFT Diagnosis methodologies
  • JTAG (Boundary Scan) architecture and applications
  • Memory BIST (MBIST) and Logic BIST (LBIST)

Hands-On DFT Practical Training

As part of the training, students will work on a complex SoC design example with multiple embedded memories. Practical sessions include:

  • Scan chain insertion and validation
  • MBIST controller integration and memory testing
  • Boundary Scan (JTAG) implementation
  • ATPG pattern generation for different fault models
  • Test pattern compression using TestKompress
  • Pattern validation through simulations

Compressed test patterns reduce IO usage, minimize tester memory requirements, and improve production test efficiency.

Tool-Based Training – Mentor Graphics Tessent

The course uses Mentor Graphics Tessent Tool, one of the most widely adopted DFT tools in the semiconductor industry. Industry surveys indicate that Tessent is used by more than 80% of leading semiconductor companies.

Students will gain practical exposure to:

  • Scan insertion using Tessent
  • ATPG pattern generation and coverage analysis
  • ATPG debug and fault simulation
  • Compression setup and validation

Students will have access to the Tessent tool at the institute for 12 months after course completion, with an option to extend access.

Who Should Enroll?

  • VLSI freshers aiming for DFT Engineer roles
  • RTL Design engineers transitioning to DFT
  • Verification engineers exploring Test Engineering
  • Working professionals upgrading DFT tool skills

This DFT Training ensures strong conceptual clarity, extensive hands-on experience, and industry-ready expertise in Scan, ATPG, JTAG, MBIST, and Test Compression methodologies.

Demo Videos

Unit NumberTopicDuration (Mins)
1What is DFT Manufacturing Defects, Why Testing Major Challenges in DFT52
2Fault Models, Types of Test Logic Insertion41
3Assignment Questions18
4Difference between pin, port and pad & clock gating39
5Disadvantages of clock gating cell (and gate), Integrated clock gating cell (ICG)25
6Need of DFT47
7Yield, Defect, Fault and error & DFT architecture73
8Scan Insertion69
9Calculating over all Test time post scan insertion21
10Full sacn vs Partial scan, Types of scan cells51
11Comparision of various scan cells, Scan chain operation42
12Problems with scan designs22
13Clock controllability DRC115
14Assignment answers discussions24
15Reset controllability DRC26
16Tristate buffer DRC, potential race condition44
17X source DRC, Feedback loop DRC30
18Deciding the no.of scan chains and scan chain length23
19Bus contention, Top down apprach, Bottom up appraoch27
20Inputs and outputs of scan, Scan chain reorder56
21Edge mixing and domain mixing46
22Practical Explanation of scan insertion25
23Pre-existing scan chains22
24Scan compression and its need87
25Decompressor, Compression ratio, Compressor18
26Bypass, Pipeline flops in compressor63
27EDT waveform, masking logic29
28Lock up latches, EDT insertions in hierarchical scan23
29EDT DRCs20
30Methods to fix DRCs, ATPG introduction38
31D algorithm8
32Other algorithms, Fault model29
33Fault categories40
34Coverage, Untestable faults, Flow of ATPG46
35Fault classes55
36ATPG Untestable (AU) class62
37Other AU faults, Untestable faults11
38Assignment answers discussion and doubt clarrifications30
39Patterns classification chain, serial, parallel16
40Pattern classification (based on format and category)73
41ATPG practicals33
42Simulations46
43Practicals of ATPG TDF and simulations87
44Simulation mismatch debug36
45Doubt clarifications, Assignment questions27
46OCC part 167
47OCC part 212
48Doubt clarification and assignment discussions12
49Doubt clarification, Assignment discussions63
50ATPG IDDQ theory8
51IDDQ lab17
52Path Delay Fault Model (PDF)53
53JTAG introduction, Boundary Scan20
54Instructions (Mandatory + Optional)17
55JTAG network, comparison between various standards20
56BSDL33
57Assignment answers discussion21
58JTAG TAP architecture58
59JTAG TAP Controller (16 state FSM)23
60Memory Basics, Memory architecture16
61Memory Faults52
62Memory Faults (Contd...)15
63Zero-One algorithm and Checkerboard algorithm14
64March Algorithms (MATS, MATS+, MATS++, MarchX, March C)28
65Algorithms supported by mentor tools56
66Tessent MBIST25
67Comparision between JTAG and IJTAG29
68TSDB flow explanation80
69Lab MBIST insertion66
70TSDB output directory explanation, MBIST simulations58
71Lab64
72Scan Wrappers84
73Lab3 (MBIST, EDT OCC insertion)21
74Lab3 (Scan, ATPG, Simulation, MBIST patterns on netlist)21
75Lab4 (MBIST, EDT OCC insertion)37
76Lab4 remaining topics50
77Level 4 projects THY50
Curriculum

ASIC & VLSI Design Flow
Session covering complete flow overview from product requirements to Post silicon validation.
Advanced Digital Design
2 weeks dedicated course focusing on all aspects of Digital design.
www.vlsiguru.com/digital-design-complete
Verilog programming basics
3 Weeks of Verilog training covering all the aspects of Verilog required for DFT engineer
This course is done in parallel with Advanced Digital design course
Linux OS
1 week training on Linux OS and hands on
TCL Scripting
1 week training on TCL scripting for flow automation
DFT Basics
SoC Scan architecture overview
Types of Scan
ATPG DRC Debug
ATPG Simulation Mismatch Debug
JTAG
MemoryBIST
Scan and ATPG
Test compression technigues
Hierarchical Scan Design
Full SOC flow - DFT
DFT Architecture and Basics
Test Plan
Different DFT schemes
Comparison between Functional and DFT Vectors
Understanding of SCAN Insertion
Scan methodology
Types of Scan
Top-down and Bottom-up Approach
Scan insertion Flow
Scan insertion Scripts
Multiple Clock domains
Design Rule Checking
Pre-DRC and Post DRC
Lock up and Terminal lockup latches
Hands-on Scan insertion
Assignments
Introduction to compression
Compression Architecture
Decompressor and Compactor
Compression Ratio
DRC Analysis
Modular Compression
X-Masking logic
Hands-on Compression
Assignments
Scan insertion with compression
On-chip clocking for at-speed testing
Hierarchical Scan Design
Bypass mode
Hands on Scan and compression
Interaction session scan and compression
Memory faults
Algorithms
Diagnostic mode
ATPG Overview
Different types of Faults
Types of fault models
DRC analysis
Test Coverage and Fault Coverage
Coverage improvement Analysis
Chain and Capture patterns
Assignments
Simulations- No-timing
At speed fault model (In detail)
Understanding Transition fault ATPG
Two pulse generator
Test procedure
Launch on capture and Launch on Shift
Top-off Pattern generation
Path delay
Introduction to JTAG
JTAG State Machine
Boundary Scan
Different instructions
Industry Standard Project
Revision
Mock Interview

Benefits of eLearning?
  • Access to the Instructor - Ask questions to the Instructor who taught the course
  • Available 24/7 - VLSIGuru eLearning courses are available when and where you need them
  • Learn at Your Pace - VLSIGuru eLearning courses are self-paced, so you can proceed when you're ready
Course Instructor
  • Sreenivas Reddy — Founder, VLSIGuru
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Course Highlights

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TESTIMONIALS

What Our Students Says About Inskill

FAQ

  1. Course presentations for all topics
  2. Session notes
  3. Lab documents with detailed steps
  4. User guides

Institute is driven by philosophy of ‘Quality education at affordable fee’. Education should be affordable to majority of the people. Even otherwise basic courses like Digital Design, Verilog, SV, UVM, UNIX and Scripting all together can’t cost 1 lakh+. These are just languages and some projects.

  1. Basic exposure to digital design concepts

Design for Testability is a methodology used to make semiconductor chips easier to test after manufacturing. It improves defect detection by inserting additional logic such as scan chains and test controllers during the design phase.

Modern chips are highly complex, and manufacturing defects can impact functionality. DFT techniques help identify structural faults early, reduce test costs, and improve product reliability before chips are shipped to customers.

The course covers Scan insertion, ATPG pattern generation, Boundary Scan (JTAG), Memory BIST, Logic BIST, compression techniques, and hierarchical scan architecture.

Yes. The training includes hands-on practice using Mentor Graphics Tessent, a widely adopted tool for test insertion, ATPG, and coverage analysis.

Yes. The program starts with fundamentals and gradually moves to advanced topics. It is designed to prepare fresh graduates for entry-level roles in semiconductor companies.

Absolutely. Engineers from RTL, verification, or non-VLSI backgrounds can enroll to transition into test engineering roles.

Students work on a complex design example that includes multiple memory blocks. Practical sessions involve scan chain implementation, compression setup, fault simulation, and pattern validation.

Basic knowledge of digital design is helpful but not mandatory. The course includes foundational concepts required for understanding test insertion flow.

You can apply for positions such as Test Engineer, DFT Engineer, ATPG Engineer, or SoC Test Engineer in semiconductor companies.

While digital design focuses on building functionality, this program emphasizes making hardware testable and validating it after fabrication.

Yes. The course covers different structural fault models including stuck-at, transition delay, and path delay faults.