摘要:
A method, system, and program product for identifying at least one bit failure among a plurality of semiconductor chips are provided. A first aspect of the invention provides a method of identifying at least one bit failure signature among a plurality of semiconductor chips, the method comprising: counting failures of each failing bit among the plurality of semiconductor chips; determining a most commonly failing bit (MCFB) among the failing bits; establishing a bit failure signature including the MCFB; counting failures of each failing bit on semiconductor chips on which the MCFB fails; determining a next most commonly failing bit (NMCFB) among the failing bits on semiconductor chips on which the MCFB fails; determining whether the NMCFB tends to fail when the MCFB fails; and in response to a determination that the NMCFB tends to fail when the MCFB fails, adding the NMCFB to the bit failure signature.
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 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:
Disclosed are embodiments of a method for randomly personalizing chips during fabrication, a personalized chip structure and a design structure for such a personalized chip structure. The embodiments use electronic device design and manufacturing processes to randomly or pseudo-randomly create a specific variation in one or more instances of a particular electronic device formed on each chip. The device design and manufacturing processes are tuned so that the specific variation occurs with some predetermined probability, resulting in a desired hardware distribution and personalizing each chip. The resulting personalized chips can be used for modal distribution of chips. For example, chips can be personalized to allow sorting when a single chip design can be used to support multiple applications. The resulting personalized chips can also be used for random number generation for creating unique on-chip identifiers, private keys, etc.
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 of diagnosing defects in scan chains by statically and dynamically segmenting and reconfiguring the scan chains. A plurality of serially extending scan chains are partitioned into a plurality of serially arranged equal length segments such that each serially extending scan chain comprises a plurality of serially extending segments. A plurality of multiplexors are positioned between the plurality of segments of each scan chain, and are controlled and utilized to connect each segment of the scan chain to the next serial segment in the same scan chain, or to connect each segment of the scan chain to the next serial segment in a lateral adjacent scan chain. Scan in data patterns are introduced into the plurality of serially extending scan chains. Particular defective segments of the plurality of serially extending scan chains are identified by controlling the multiplexors to connect and shift the data pattern out of each segment of a scan chain serially to the next serial segment in the same scan chain, or to connect and shift the data pattern out of each segment of the scan chain to the next serial segment in an adjacent lateral scan chain, with a sequence of serial shifts and serial-lateral shifts being selected to identify particular defective segments of the plurality of serially extending scan chains.
摘要:
A method for defect diagnosis of semiconductor chip. The method comprises the steps of (a) identifying M design structures and N physical characteristics of the circuit design, wherein M and N are positive integers, wherein each design structure of the M design structures is testable as to pass or fail, and wherein each physical characteristic of the N physical characteristics is present in at least one design structure of the M design structures; (b) for each design structure of the M design structures of the circuit design, determining a fail rate and determining whether the fail rate is high or low; and (c) if every design structure of the M design structures in which a physical characteristic of the N physical characteristics is present has a high fail rate, then flagging the physical characteristic as being likely to contain at least a defect.
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:
Defects in manufacturing of IC devices are analyzed by testing the devices for defects using results of LSSD technology to find at least one failing pattern that contains incorrect values. The failing latches are used as a starting point to trace back through combinational logic feeding the failing latches, until controllable latches are encountered. A decision is then made to continue the back tracing or not depending on whether the latter latches were clocked during the application of one of the failing patterns or not.