PREDICTIVE, ADAPTIVE POWER SUPPLY FOR AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT UNDER TEST

摘要

A main power source supplies current through path impedance to a power terminal of an integrated circuit device under test DUT. The DUT's demand for current at the power input terminal temporarily increases following edges of a clock signal applied to the DUT during a test as transistors within the IC switch in response to the clock signal edges. To limit variation noise in voltage at the power input terminal, an auxiliary power supply supplies an additional current pulse to the power input terminal to meet the increased demand during each cycle of the clock signal. The magnitude of the current pulse is a function of a predicted increase in current demand during that clock cycle, and of the magnitude of an adaption signal controlled by a feedback circuit provided to limit variation in voltage developed at the DUT's power input terminal.