Testability implications in low-cost integrated radio transceivers: a Bluetooth case study

As the use of wireless communications in daily life increases, attaining low-cost solutions becomes increasingly important due to shrinking profit margins. Cost optimization that solely targets at minimization of the cost of system architecture may result in suboptimal, highly untestable, solutions. Test design and design for testability need to be incorporated into the system design flow to achieve viable solutions. This paper presents an analysis of test requirements, implications and test cost for low-cost Bluetooth systems. Testability problems are identified and possible solutions along with avenues to reduce the test cost by utilizing lower-cost testers are discussed.