5.5.1. Design Overhead

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is design overhead?

   Hint

   Think about extra components in a circuit.

2. 2.

   Name a key disadvantage of increasing circuit complexity.

   Hint

   Consider what happens when you add more roads in a city.

3. 3.

   What does design overhead refer to?

   • Increased performance
   • Additional complexity in design
   • Improved test coverage

   Hint

   Consider what happens when you add more features to a house.

4. 4.

   True or False: Adding scan chains decreases the power consumption of a circuit.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Think about how adding more appliances increases the energy bill.

5. 5.

   Design a hypothetical digital circuit that requires both scan chains for testability and minimal design overhead. Discuss the balance you'd strike.

   Hint

   Think about which parts of a circuit would be essential for diagnostic purposes.

6. 6.

   You are tasked with creating a portable device. What strategies do you employ to minimize both area and power consumption while ensuring test coverage through scan chains?

   Hint

   Consider the nature of the device and its operational constraints.