An input/output (I/O) block for a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC), which includes: at least one I/O buffer, configured to define at least one signal path in respect of a connection to a remote I/O block via a communication channel, each signal path causing a respective signal edge slope; and an I/O sensor, coupled to the at least one signal path and configured to generate an output signal indicative of one or both of: (a) a timing difference between the signal edge for a first signal path and the signal edge for a second signal path, and (b) an eye pattern parameter for one or more of the at least one signal path.

A technique for determining performance characteristics of electronic devices and systems is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by measuring a first response on a first transmission line from a single pulse transmitted on the first transmission line, and then measuring a second response on the first transmission line from a single pulse transmitted on at least one second transmission line, wherein the at least one second transmission line is substantially adjacent to the first transmission line. The worst case bit sequences for transmission on the first transmission line and the at least one second transmission line are then determined based upon the first response and the second response for determining performance characteristics associated with the first transmission line.

Disclosed is a test and measurement instrument including a plurality of ports. The ports are configured to source a test signal into a device under test (DUT), and receive a signal response from the DUT. The test and measurement instrument also includes a measurement unit configured to measure the signal response. The test and measurement instrument further includes a processor configured to compare the signal response to a data structure. The processor also determines a classification of, and/or connections to, at least one DUT component coupled to at least one of the ports based on results of the comparison.

A semiconductor device includes a first integrated chip; a second integrated chip; a plurality of reference through-chip vias formed through the first and second integrated circuit chips; and at least a normal through-chip via formed through the first and second integrated circuit chips, wherein the first integrated circuit chip comprises: a plurality of reference sourcing circuits suitable for sourcing a reference current to the respective reference through-chip vias; and at least a sourcing circuit suitable for sourcing the reference current to the normal through-chip via, and wherein the second integrated circuit chip comprises: a plurality of reference sinking circuits suitable for sinking currents flowing through the respective reference through-chip vias; a line suitable for electrically coupling the plurality of reference through-chip vias; a comparison voltage generation circuit suitable for generating a plurality of comparison voltages based on a voltage of the line; at least a sinking circuit suitable for sinking a current flowing through the normal through-chip via; and a comparison circuit suitable for comparing the voltage of the normal through-chip via to the plurality of comparison voltages.

An input/output (I/O) block for a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC), which includes: at least one I/O buffer, configured to define at least one signal path in respect of a connection to a remote I/O block via a communication channel, each signal path causing a respective signal edge slope; and an I/O sensor, coupled to the at least one signal path and configured to generate an output signal indicative of one or both of: (a) a timing difference between the signal edge for a first signal path and the signal edge for a second signal path, and (b) an eye pattern parameter for one or more of the at least one signal path.

An input/output (I/O) block for a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC), which includes: at least one I/O buffer, configured to define at least one signal path in respect of a connection to a remote I/O block via a communication channel, each signal path causing a respective signal edge slope; and an I/O sensor, coupled to the at least one signal path and configured to generate an output signal indicative of one or both of: (a) a timing difference between the signal edge for a first signal path and the signal edge for a second signal path, and (b) an eye pattern parameter for one or more of the at least one signal path.

There is provided a semiconductor wafer suitable for the inspection of an operation state.

A wafer is a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of chip forming regions, and includes a memory cell that is formed in each of the chip forming regions and an inspection device that is formed in each of the chip forming regions. The inspection device has a photodiode that receives an input of pump light for checking an operation of the memory cell and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the pump light and a signal processing circuit that generates a logic signal based on the electrical signal output from the photodiode and outputs the logic signal to the memory cell.

Disclosed is a system and method for collecting trace data of integrated circuits from the back-end assembly tools and using yield, reliability, and burn-in data to distinguish good circuit traces from bad ones. Described further is an system and method for implementing a heuristic mapping of trace data for distinguishing between good or bad traces in an Internet-based or offline application. The result of this detection can then be used for yield improvement or for burn-in reduction where for example burn-in chips having good circuit traces are subjected to thermal stress for less time than for chips identified as having bad circuit traces.

A device includes a first die including a pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) generator that outputs test signals on parallel lanes. The device further includes a second die comprising a PRBS checker that compares at least a portion of the test signals with reference signals to identify a particular lane associated with an error.

A method of performing error detection within an integrated circuit chip analyses transactions communicated over interconnect circuitry of the integrated circuit chip to detect whether a message contains a data error. A memory of the integrated circuit chip coupled to the interconnect circuitry is scanned to detect whether there is a data error stored in the memory, and in response to detecting a data error in a transaction communicated over the interconnect circuitry and/or a data error stored in the memory, a dedicated action indicative of a data error is performed.