Patent classifications
G01R31/2856
SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP PROVIDING ON-CHIP SELF-TESTING OF AN ANA-LOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER IMPLEMENTED IN THE SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP
A semiconductor chip providing on-chip self-testing of an Analog-to-Digital Converter, ADC, implemented in the semiconductor chip is provided. The semiconductor chip comprises the ADC and a Digital-to-Analog Converter, DAC, configured to generate and supply a radio frequency test signal to the ADC via a supply path. The ADC is configured to generate digital output data based on the radio frequency test signal. The semiconductor chip further comprises a reference data generation circuit configured to generate digital reference data. Additionally, the semiconductor chip comprises a comparator circuit configured to compare the digital output data to the digital reference in order to determine error data.
On-die aging measurements for dynamic timing modeling
An integrated circuit die includes a core fabric configurable to include an aging measurement circuit and a device manager coupled to the core fabric to operate the aging measurement circuit for a select period of time. The aging measurement circuit includes a counter to count transitions of a signal propagating through the aging measurement circuit during the select period of time when the aging measurement circuit is operating. The transitions of the signal counted by the counter during the select period of time are a measure of an aging characteristic of the integrated circuit die.
End-of-life prediction for circuits using accelerated reliability models and sensor data
In some examples, a circuit may be configured to perform a method that includes performing a circuit function via a circuit function unit of a circuit, receiving sensor data from one or more sensors associated with the circuit function unit, and estimating a remaining life of the circuit based on an accelerated reliability model and the sensor data, wherein the sensor data comprises input to the accelerated reliability model. The circuit itself may include a dedicated circuit unit that estimates the remaining life of the circuit based on an accelerated reliability model and the sensor data, and the circuit may output one or more predictive alerts or predictive faults when the remaining life is below a threshold, which may prompt the system for predictive maintenance on the circuit.
DESIGN-FOR-TEST CIRCUIT FOR EVALUATING BIAS TEMPERATURE INSTABILITY EFFECT
A design-for-test circuit for evaluating a BTI effect is disclosed, the DFT circuit comprises a plurality of stress generators having logic circuits with a plurality of input and output terminals. Each output terminal is connected to the grid of the device to be tested. In a stress mode, a stress input signal is selected from a frequency signal, a first direct current voltage, and a second direct current voltage, all stress output signals formed by all the stress generators comprise the first direct current voltage, a series of frequency signals with different duty cycles, and the second direct current voltage, and all the stress output signals are used in combination such that the stress times regarding the device under test within the same test time have a plurality of different values, so as to evaluate the BTI effect of the device under test having different values of the stress times.
On-Die Aging Measurements for Dynamic Timing Modeling
A method includes mapping an aging measurement circuit (AMC) into the core fabric of an FPGA and operating the AMC for a select time period. During the select period of time, the AMC counts transition of a signal propagating through the AMC. Timing information based on the counted transitions is stored in a timing model in a memory. The timing information represents an aging characteristic of the core fabric at a time that the AMC is operated. An EDA toolchain uses the timing information in the timing model to generate a timing guard-band for the configurable IC die. The AMC is removed from the core fabric and another circuit device is mapped and fitted into the core fabric using the generated timing guard-band models. The circuit device is operated in the configurable IC die based on the timing guard-band models.
Apparatus and method for early lifetime failure detection system
An on-die early lifetime failure detection system with a reliability mechanism isolation circuit provides an early lifetime failure detection. The system measures and monitors reliability at time-0 (t0) and end-of-life. The measurements enable detection of latent reliability or marginality issues during the lifetime of the product. The system includes: a stress controller to adjust voltage for a power supply and voltage for a ground supply in accordance with one or more sensors; and an aging detector circuitry coupled to the stress controller, wherein the aging detector circuitry comprises a ring oscillator having delay stages, wherein each delay stage comprises an aging monitor circuitry, wherein the stress controller to adjust voltage for a power supply and voltage for a ground supply of the delay stage.
TEST METHOD
Provided is a test method of a semiconductor device under test, the test method comprising: controlling the semiconductor device under test to an on state by inputting a control signal to the semiconductor device under test; and observing the semiconductor device under test at a time of controlling the semiconductor device under test in the on state to an off state and evaluating the semiconductor device under test, wherein the semiconductor device under test includes one semiconductor device under test or a plurality of semiconductor devices under test, and in the controlling to the on state, a length of an on-time for which the one semiconductor device under test or the plurality of semiconductor devices under test are set to the on state is adjusted based on a magnitude of a variation in a delay time of the control signal.
Integrated circuit and method for diagnosing an integrated circuit
According to one aspect, an integrated circuit includes: an electronic module configured to generate a voltage at an output, and an electronic control circuit coupled to an output of the electronic module, the electronic control circuit comprising an emissive electronic component. The electronic control circuit is configured to cause the emissive electronic component to emit light radiation as a function of a value of the voltage at the output of the electronic module relative to a value of an operating voltage of the electronic module, and the operating voltage is specific thereto during normal operation of this electronic module. The light radiation emitted by the emissive electronic component is configured to diffuse to an outer face of the integrated circuit.
Systems and methods for evaluating the reliability of semiconductor die packages
A system and method for evaluating the reliability of semiconductor die packages are configured to sort a plurality of semiconductor dies with a Known Good Die (KGD) subsystem based on a comparison of an inline part average testing (I-PAT) score of each of the plurality of semiconductor dies to a plurality of I-PAT score thresholds, where the semiconductor die data includes the I-PAT score for each of the plurality of semiconductor dies, where the I-PAT score represents a weighted defectivity of the corresponding semiconductor die. The semiconductor dies may be filtered to remove at-risk semiconductor dies prior to sorting. The semiconductor die data may be received from a plurality of semiconductor die supplier subsystems. The KGD subsystem may transmit semiconductor die reliability data about the sorted plurality of semiconductor dies to a plurality of semiconductor die packager subsystems.
Detection result recording and outputting device
A detection result recording and outputting device of an IC is operable to record and output detection results at different speeds respectively. The device includes a sensing circuit, a decision circuit, a storage circuit, and a control circuit. The sensing circuit detects the variation in a characteristic of a target circuit and generates detection results at a first speed. The decision circuit receives the detection results and generates a trigger signal or changes its level when finding that a detection result satisfies a predetermined condition. The control circuit writes the detection result and subsequent (N−1) detection results into the storage circuit at a second speed according to the trigger signal, and then reads out the detection results from the storage circuit at a third speed and outputs them at a fourth speed. The second speed is not higher than the first speed, but higher than the fourth speed.