Designing Power-Efficient BIST Architecture: Leveraging Reversible Logic for Scalable Digital Systems

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach to optimizing power usage in scalable Built-In Self-Test (BIST) controllers. While BIST mechanisms are crucial for maintaining the reliability of digital circuits, they can be excessively power-hungry during testing phases, particularly in applications where energy consumption is a concern. We propose an innovative architecture incorporating reversible logic gates and circuits to overcome this challenge. Reversible logic is renowned for its low power consumption as it retains information. By integrating reversible logic into our architecture, we can significantly reduce power usage during test cycles, making it an ideal solution for scalable systems ranging from 8 to 32 bits. Our trials showed substantial power savings compared to traditional BIST approaches without sacrificing test coverage or efficiency. Our research provides new opportunities to develop energy-efficient testing methods for digital circuits, contributing to broader efforts in sustainable electronics design.