Testing and exercising individual, unsingulated dies on a wafer
US5838163A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 26, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 26, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/2831
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Signals (including probes) from an external system are selectively connected to a plurality of unsingulated dies on a semiconductor wafer with a minimum number of connections and an electronic selection mechanism resident on the wafer. The electronic selection mechanism is connected to the individual dies by conductive lines on the wafer. The electronic selection mechanism is capable of providing the external signals (or connecting the external probe) to a single die or groups of the dies, and electronically "walking through" the entire plurality of unsingulated dies. Redundant conductive lines may be provided. Diodes and/or fuses may be provided in conjunction with the conductive lines, to protect against various faults which may occur in the conductive lines. Redundant electronic selection mechanisms may also be provided to ensure the ability to selectively provide signals to the unsingulated dies.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.