摘要:
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for diagnostically testing circuitry within a device. The apparatus and method incorporate the use of energy (e.g., light, heat, magnetic, electric, etc.) applied directly to any location on the device that can affect the electrical activity within the circuitry being tested in order to produce an indicator of a response. A local sensor (e.g., photonic, magnetic, etc.) is positioned at another location on the device where the sensor can detect the indicator of the response within the circuitry. A correlator is configured with response location correlation software and/or circuit tracing software so that when the indicator is detected, the correlator can determine the exact location of a response causing a device failure and/or trace the connectivity of the circuitry, based upon the location of the energy source and the location of the sensor.
摘要:
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for diagnostically testing circuitry within a device. The apparatus and method incorporate the use of energy (e.g., light, heat, magnetic, electric, etc.) applied directly to any location on the device that can affect the electrical activity within the circuitry being tested in order to produce an indicator of a response. A local sensor (e.g., photonic, magnetic, etc.) is positioned at another location on the device where the sensor can detect the indicator of the response within the circuitry. A correlator is configured with response location correlation software and/or circuit tracing software so that when the indicator is detected, the correlator can determine the exact location of a response causing a device failure and/or trace the connectivity of the circuitry, based upon the location of the energy source and the location of the sensor.
摘要:
A method and structure for an integrated circuit comprising a first transistor and an embedded carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNT FET) proximate to the first transistor, wherein the CNT FET is dimensioned smaller than the first transistor. The CNT FET is adapted to sense signals from the first transistor, wherein the signals comprise any of temperature, voltage, current, electric field, and magnetic field signals. Moreover, the CNT FET is adapted to measure stress and strain in the integrated circuit, wherein the stress and strain comprise any of mechanical and thermal stress and strain. Additionally, the CNT FET is adapted to detect defective circuits within the integrated circuit.
摘要:
Disclosed is a shielded clock tree that has one or more clock signal buffers and clock signal splitters, with clock signal wiring connecting the clock signal buffers to the clock signal splitters. Shielding is adjacent the clock signal wiring, where ground wiring connects the shielding to ground. The shielding comprises shield wires positioned adjacent and parallel to the clock signal wiring. The invention provides switches in the ground wiring, and these switches are connected to, and controlled by, a test controller.
摘要:
A diagnostic system and method for testing an integrated circuit during fabrication thereof. The diagnostic system has at least one integrated circuit chip that has an electrical signature associated with it; a sacrificial circuit that is adjacent to the integrated circuit chip and has a known electrical signature associated with it and intentionally mis-designed circuitry; and a comparator adapted to compare the electrical signature of the integrated circuit chip with the known electrical signature of the sacrificial circuit, wherein a match in the electrical signature of the integrated circuit chip with the known electrical signature of the sacrificial circuit indicates that the integrated circuit chip is mis-designed. The diagnostic system further includes a semiconductor wafer that has a plurality of integrated circuit chips and a kerf area separating one integrated circuit chip from another integrated circuit chip. A mis-designed integrated circuit chip has abnormally functioning circuitry.
摘要:
Disclosed is a shielded clock tree that has one or more clock signal buffers and clock signal splitters, with clock signal wiring connecting the clock signal buffers to the clock signal splitters. Shielding is adjacent the clock signal wiring, where ground wiring connects the shielding to ground. The shielding comprises shield wires positioned adjacent and parallel to the clock signal wiring. The invention provides switches in the ground wiring, and these switches are connected to, and controlled by, a test controller.
摘要:
Disclosed is a shielded clock tree that has one or more clock signal buffers and clock signal splitters, with clock signal wiring connecting the clock signal buffers to the clock signal splitters. Shielding is adjacent the clock signal wiring, where ground wiring connects the shielding to ground. The shielding comprises shield wires positioned adjacent and parallel to the clock signal wiring. The invention provides switches in the ground wiring, and these switches are connected to, and controlled by, a test controller.
摘要:
A method is disclosed for designing scan chains in an integrated circuit chip with specific parameter sensitivities to identify fabrication process defects causing test fails and chip yield loss. The composition of scan paths in the integrated circuit chip is biased to allow them to also function as on-product process monitors. The method adds grouping constraints that bias scan chains to have common latch cell usage where possible, and also biases cell routing to constrain scan chain routing to given restricted metal layers for interconnects. The method assembles a list of latch design parameters which are sensitive to process variation or integrity, and formulates a plan for scan chain design which determines the number and the length of scan chains. A model is formulated of scan chain design based upon current state of yield and process integrity, wherein certain latch designs having dominant sensitivities are chosen for specific ones of the scan chains on the chip. The model is provided as input parameters to a global placement and wiring program used to lay out the scan chains. Test data on the chip is then analyzed to determine and isolate systematic yield problems denoted by attributes of a statistically significant failing population of a specific type of scan chain.
摘要:
A method and structure for an integrated circuit comprising a first transistor and an embedded carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNT FET) proximate to the first transistor, wherein the CNT FET is dimensioned smaller than the first transistor. The CNT FET is adapted to sense signals from the first transistor, wherein the signals comprise any of temperature, voltage, current, electric field, and magnetic field signals. Moreover, the CNT FET is adapted to measure stress and strain in the integrated circuit, wherein the stress and strain comprise any of mechanical and thermal stress and strain. Additionally, the CNT FET is adapted to detect defective circuits within the integrated circuit.
摘要:
Disclosed is a fault isolation and measurement system that provides multiple near-field scanning isolation techniques on a common platform. The system incorporates the use of a specialized holder to supply electrical bias to internal circuit structures located within an area of a device or material. The system further uses a multi-probe assembly. Each probe is mounted to a support structure around a common reference point and is a component of a different measurement or fault isolation tool. The assembly moves such that each probe can obtain measurements from the same fixed location on the device or material. The relative positioning of the support structure and/or the holder can be changed in order to obtain measurements from multiple same fixed locations within the area. Additionally, the system uses a processor for providing layered images associated with each signal and for precisely aligning those images with design data in order to characterize, or isolate fault locations within the device or material.