Voltage and temperature margin testing service

17 September 2014 Test & Measurement

Even when prototype versions of an electronic product have proven successful in operation, there is often uncertainty whether enough margin has been designed in, whether it will be reliable in the user’s application, and whether all of them will work in spite of wafer process variations.

For example, if a processor is tested at nominal process voltage and temperature (PVT) one could get a false sense of security when the design works as expected. However, it can be seen that the processor maximum frequency can vary from 1100 to 1600 MHz.

Testing a design at the extremes of voltage and temperature provides a thorough stress test. When completed, the voltage supply can be accurately set using regulated supplies. This fixes one of the three PVT parameters and allows the other two (temperature and process) to move freely without compromising design integrity.

Voltage and temperature margin testing (VTMT) is the practice of exceeding the expected limits of voltage and temperature to simulate the worst case functional performance of a product. For projects that are subject to severe cost or schedule constraints, VTMT has proven to be an acceptable alternative to conventional techniques such as worst case analysis.

Benefits of VTMT include the following:

* Assurance of a systematic method for investigation of potential risks where the parameters are not adequately modelled. An example is RF circuits which have distributed circuit parameters.

* Labour savings for units too complex to simulate and which generally require Monte Carlo or root-sum squares analyses.

* Real-time operation and review of complex circuits, allowing the weighing of alternative design actions.

* Cost savings from expedited risk assessment. Comparative studies have demonstrated that testing may be completed in less than one third the time required for analysis.

Lochtron provides climatic testing to electronics designers through an advanced test chamber (pictured) to ensure that their products meet temperature and humidity testing goals.

For more information contact Lochtron, +27 (0)82 351 9764, info@lochtron.com, www.lochtron.com

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