摘要:
An automatic logic-model generation system operates on a behavioral description of an electronic design (e.g., a circuit, a system, etc.) to automatically generate a low-level (i.e., circuit-level) design of the electronic design, to lay out the electronic design for production in the form of an integrated circuit, and to produce logic-level models incorporating accurate timing (and delay) information. A verification process is also performed whereby the logic-level model is automatically verified for accuracy.
摘要:
A semiconductor die having raised conductive bumps on its surface for connecting to other devices or systems is disposed on a face of a preformed planar structure (interposer) having through holes. Solder joints with conductive bumps on an underlying substrate are formed in the through holes. In one embodiment, the interposer is dissolvable. In another embodiment, the through holes are at least partially filled with a conductive material for electrically connecting to the die. In another embodiment, the through holes are angled so that the interposer acts as a pitch spreader or adapter. In another embodiment, ball bumps are disposed on a side of the interposer away from the die. Various other embodiments are directed to multi-tier flip-chip arrays employing preformed planar structures between tiers.
摘要:
A polysilicon interconnect is formed on a microelectronic circuit substrate for conducting signals from a driver to a non-polycrystalline silicon contact which has higher impedance than the interconnect. A plurality of electronic "speed bumps" are spaced along the interconnect for disturbing or disrupting signals propagating along the interconnect toward the contact and thereby reducing undesirable back reflection and ringing. The speed bumps can include capacitance altering elements in the form of dielectric strips, or resistance altering elements in the form of low resistance doped areas or high resistance amorphous areas. The speed bumps can include first and second elements having different values of capacitance or resistance which are spaced along the interconnect in alternating relation.
摘要:
A methodology for generating structural descriptions of complex digital devices from high-level descriptions and specifications is disclosed. The methodology uses a systematic technique to map and enforce consistency of the semantics imbedded in the intent of the original, high-level descriptions. The design activity is essentially a series of transformations operating upon various levels of design representations. At each level, the intended meaning (semantics) and formal software manipulations are captured to derive a more detailed level describing hardware meeting the design goals. Important features of the methodology are: capturing the users concepts, intent, specification, descriptions, constraints and trade-offs; architectural partitioning; what-if analysis at a high level; sizing estimation; timing estimation; architectural trade-off; conceptual design with implementation estimation; and timing closure. The methodology includes using estimators, based on data gathered over a number of realized designs, for partitioning and evaluating a design prior to logic synthesis. From the structural description, a physical implementation of the device is readily realized.Techniques are described for estimating the power and area requirements of the physical implementation of the device, at early, high level stages of the design process (e.g., at the system, behavioral, and register transfer level stages). The techniques are suited to the design of any semiconductor device, particularly CMOS devices.
摘要:
Plastic (or resinous) materials used to package (or support) electronic devices typically have thermal coefficients of expansion exceeding that of the device to be packaged. A "loading" material (agent) having a coefficient of expansion significantly less than the "base" plastic material (molding compound), less than that of the die, and preferably zero or negative over a temperature range of interest, is mixed with the "base" plastic material to produce a plastic molding compound with a lower overall thermal coefficient of expansion. Titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide and silicon are discussed as loading agents. The loading material is mixed into the plastic molding compound in sufficient quantity to ensure that the resulting mixture exhibits an overall thermal coefficient of expansion that is more closely matched to that of the electronic device. Reduction of the absolute thermal coefficient of expansion of the plastic material (independent of any matching criteria) additionally serves to reduce thermal stress cracking of plastic package bodies during rapid thermal cycling, such as occurs during vapor soldering.
摘要:
A methodology for generating structural descriptions of complex digital devices from high-level descriptions and specifications using a systematic technique to map and enforce consistency of the semantics imbedded in the intent of the original, high-level descriptions. The design activity is essentially a series of transformations operating upon various levels of design representations. At each level, the intended meaning (semantics) and formal software manipulations are captured to derive a more detailed level describing hardware meeting the design goals. Important features of the methodology are: capturing the users concepts, intent, specification, descriptions, constraints and trade-offs; architectural partitioning; what-if analysis at a high level; sizing estimation; timing estimation; architectural trade-off; conceptual design with implementation estimation; and timing closure. The methodology includes using estimators, based on data gathered over a number of realized designs, for partitioning and evaluating a design prior to logic synthesis. From the structural description, a physical implementation of the device is readily realized. Techniques are provided for constraint-driven partitioning of behavioral descriptions, and effective partitioning of high level descriptions for synthesis of multiple chips or blocks at the logic or register transfer levels. The partitioning technique is level-independent, and is integrated with the top-down design process, and takes into account constraints such as area, timing, power, package cost and testability. Iterative refinement is used to arrive at partitions that meet constraints imposed at high levels of abstraction.
摘要:
Fine, sub-micron line features and patterns are created in a sensitized layer on a semiconductor wafer by a beam of low wavelength radiation, such as X-rays or Gamma-rays. A stream of such radiation is concentrated and collimated by a concentrator, the output of which is disposed in close proximity to the sensitized surface of the wafer. In this manner, the sensitized surface can be converted from one chemical state to another chemical state, essentially point-by-point. By moving one or the other of the beam or the wafer, line features can be converted in the sensitized surface. Typically, non-converted areas of the sensitized surface are removed, for further processing a layer underlying the sensitized surface. The concentrator is useful in for directing a stream of radiation from a continuously emitting source, such as from a pellet of Cobalt-60, onto the sensitized surface of the wafer when a shutter mechanism is incorporated either upstream (towards the source) or downstream (towards the wafer) from the concentrator.
摘要:
An apparatus and method for mounting and connecting a plurality of integrated circuit chip dice to a printed circuit substrate by means of a small circuit board (such as a Mini-Board) that may be adapted to attach and connect into a plurality of different types of printed circuit board systems. A pattern of conductors that monotonically increases in pitch and width from a central point on a planar structure to the perimeter edge of the structure allows matching of any type of printed circuit board connections. A standard Mini-Board may be fabricated and tested before attaching to an electronic system printed circuit board. Repair and rework is easily facilitated with a minimum amount of damage to a printed circuit board by utilizing the present invention. A plurality of active and passive electronic components may also be attached and connected to the planar structure of the present invention. A hybrid mini-system may be fabricated and tested before connecting it into a system printed circuit board.
摘要:
Signals (including probes) from an external system are selectively connected to a plurality of unsingulated dies on a semiconductor wafer with a minimum number of connections and an electronic selection mechanism resident on the wafer. The electronic selection mechanism is connected to the individual dies by conductive lines on the wafer. The electronic selection mechanism is capable of providing the external signals (or connecting the external probe) to a single die or groups of the dies, and electronically "walking through" the entire plurality of unsingulated dies. Redundant conductive lines may be provided. Diodes and/or fuses may be provided in conjunction with the conductive lines, to protect against various faults which may occur in the conductive lines. Redundant electronic selection mechanisms may also be provided to ensure the ability to selectively provide signals to the unsingulated dies.
摘要:
Composite bond pad structure and geometry increases bond pad density and reduces lift-off problems. Bond pad density is increased by laying out certain non-square bond pads which are shaped, sized and oriented such that each bond pad closely conforms to the shape of the contact footprint made therewith by a bond wire or lead frame lead and aligns to the approach angle of the conductive line to which it is connected. Alternating, interleaved, complementary wedge-shaped bond pads are discussed. Bond pad liftoff is reduced by providing an upper bond pad, a lower bond pad and an insulating component between the upper and lower bond pads. At least one opening is provided through the insulating component, extending from the bottom bond pad to the upper bond pad. The at least one opening is aligned with a peripheral region of the bottom bond pad and is filled with conductive material.