Constructing self-testing circuits with the use of step-by-step (cascade) control

A method of control is proposed on the basis of representing the checked circuits as consequently connected subcircuits (cascades). The subdivision of the circuits into cascades is made in such a way that any failure in each of them results in a distortion of no more than one binary digit at its input. There is developed an universal sequential-sampling circuit with step-by-step control, where the detection of errors does not require additional (coding) variables. The results of this investigation showed that the proposed method for operational control entails considerably lesser hardware and power expenditure as compared with the circuits based on application of the Berger code.