The recent focus of semiconductor design and manufacture has been on digital circuits using discrete-time signals. Real-world signals, however, are not discrete but continuous-time phenomena, and their ever-changing nature is best suited to the real-time operation of analog circuits. Demands for high fidelity real-world signal processing have spurred the development of mixed-signal applications, using both digital and analog characteristics. This combination of digital circuit processing power with analog circuit responsiveness has created a resurgence of interest in analog technology, and consequently, the specific issues related to analog circuit failure.

This tutorial will introduce concepts for analyzing analog failures. It will cover fundamentals of failure analysis. Then, it will comment on the toolset necessary for analysis, as well as touch on the ins and outs of taking measurements on analog circuits. Case studies will finish out the tutorial, offering examples of the principles discussed.