Integrating Power-Saving Techniques into Design for Testability of Semiconductors for Power-Efficient Testing
Semiconductor Design & Test Specialist, California, USA, Vijayaprabhuvel Rajavel · The American Journal of Engineering And Technology · 2025
This article addresses the issue of improving energy efficiency in the testing of system-on-chip (SoC) semiconductor systems, including heterogeneous computing cores and AI accelerators. An analysis of SoC architecture and existing Design for Testability (DFT) methodologies is presented, considering energy-saving techniques such as clock gating, power gating, and dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS). A literature review highlights the insufficient development of a comprehensive approach to reducing power consumption specifically during testing procedures. Practical examples, including Qualcomm Snapdragon, Apple A-Series, and Tesla FSD, demonstrate that integrating low-power techniques into DFT can significantly reduce energy consumption (by an average of 20–35%) without compromising test coverage quality. The proposed analysis confirms the effectiveness of combining traditional scan chains, built-in self-test (BIST), and boundary scan with power management mechanisms, contributing to reduced thermal loads and increased reliability of modern SoCs in mass production. The findings presented in this article will be of interest to leading researchers and practicing engineers in the fields of microelectronics, materials science, and energy optimization, aiming to integrate advanced testing methodologies with innovative energy-saving solutions to develop reliable, high-performance, and environmentally sustainable semiconductor systems.