Boundary Scan Test

For complex, highly integrated circuits, the boundary scan test is a useful addition or alternative to the in-circuit test. It drives external signals to the circuit to be tested in order to check that it works correctly. To do this, the components are connected to a boundary scan cell with a test access port via which the test programme’s test data and commands can enter and leave the circuit.

The depth of testing can be vastly improved in a boundary scan by using additional hardware as this enables faults to be accurately localised.