Systems and methods for tracking changes to and identifying layers of integrated circuit devices

US10068046B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Silicon Laboratories Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jessica P. Davis · Austin, US
• James L Deeringer, Jr. · Pflugerville, US
• Sridhar Hariharan · Austin, US
• Harry Levanti · Kyle, US
• David M. Szmyd · Albuquerque, US
• Sarah P. Walton · Austin, US
• Steven G. Young · Mission Viejo, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 21, 2015
• Grant date: Sep 4, 2018
• Expiry date: Jul 6, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01L2223/54453
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to identify and track layer changes of an integrated circuit (IC) device, e.g., during any one of circuit design, pattern generation, device fabrication and/or chip failure analysis processes. Multiple revisions and variants of different IC layers may be identified and tracked using a tracking system and standardized labeling scheme that employs a combination of identifier characters and identifier structures that may be further implemented using revision layer identification parameterized cells (layerID PCells and BooleanID PCells) that include such identifier characters and/or structures The disclosed tracking systems may be further implemented in an automated manner and/or in a manner that allows programming of various parts/aspects and layerID PCells and BooleanID PCells of the tracking system.