The KARL/KARATE system-integrating functional test development into a CAD environment for VLSI

KARATE is a system for testability analysis and automatic test pattern generation. It is embedded in the KARL design environment. Like the KARL environment, KARATE works on hardware descriptions at RT, gate, and switch level. A comfortable, interactive user interface makes the process of test-pattern generation transparent to the user. Badly controllable or badly observable hardware components or data paths are exactly localized and the user is supported to eliminate these shortcomings. Attacking the test problem at RT level has the advantage that redesigns to increase testability are cheaper than they would be during later design phases