Patent · US Expired

Method and system for determining minimum post production test time required on an integrated circuit device to achieve optimum reliability

US7139944B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
4References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 25, 2003
Grant dateNov 21, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 23, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C2029/4402
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system for determining minimum post production test time on an integrated circuit device to achieve optimal reliability of that device utilizing defect counts. The number of defective cells or active elements with defective cells (DEFECTS) on the integrated circuit device are counted and this count serves as a basis for determining the minimum test time. A higher number of DEFECTS results in longer post production testing in order to achieve optimum reliability of the integrated circuit device. The number of DEFECTS can be counted on a device internal to the integrated circuit device and made available to determine the minimum required test time. The number of DEFECTS can also be obtained external to the integrated circuit device by intercepting information routed to another device. Information provided internally and externally can also reveal the physical location of DEFECTS to further refine the minimum required test time.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.