US5608337A
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US
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Method and apparatus of testing an integrated circuit device
Assignee: Altera Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1997-03-04
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for testing an integrated circuit device. An integrated circuit device undergoes testing in at least two different stages of the manufacturing process. At one stage, the semiconductor wafer containing multiple chip dice is probed by a probe tester that tests each of the dice individually. At another stage, after an individual chip die has been encapsulated in a package, a package tester tests and exercises the functions of the chip.
Inventors
- 👤 Matthew C. Hendricks
- 👤 Ernest Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:32
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P74/00; H10P74/23; G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/316; G01R31/317; G01R31/3181; G01R31/319; G01R31/31903; G01R31/31905; G01R31/31917; G01R31/31926
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for testing an integrated circuit chip having a plurality of pins with a tester having a plurality of tester channels in separate testing steps, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first test card and a second test card; performing a first test of the integrated circuit chip comprising the steps of: coupling the plurality of tester channels through said first test card to the integrated circuit chip; and testing a first portion of the integrated circuit chip; thereafter, performing a second test of the integrated circuit chip comprising the steps of: coupling the plurality of tester channels through said second test card to the integrated circuit chip; and testing a second portion of the integrated circuit chip.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for testing an integrated circuit chip having a plurality of pins with a tester having a plurality of tester channels in separate testing steps, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first test card and a second test card; performing a first test of the integrated circuit chip comprising the steps of: coupling the plurality of tester channels through said first test card to the integrated circuit chip; and testing a first portion of the integrated circuit chip; thereafter, performing a second test of the integrated circuit chip comprising the steps of: coupling the plurality of tester channels through said second test card to the integrated circuit chip; and testing a second portion of the integrated circuit chip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of repeating said coupling and testing steps if necessary until all of the plurality of pins have been coupled to the plurality of tester channels and all portions of the integrated circuit chip have been fully tested by the tester.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of pins is greater than the plurality of tester channels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of coupling the plurality of tester channels through said first test card to the integrated circuit chip further comprises: coupling the plurality of tester channels through said first test card to a first group of the plurality of pins; and coupling a second group of the plurality of pins to at least one reference potential, each pin in said second group being coupled to exactly one reference potential.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said step of coupling the plurality of tester channels through said second test card to the integrated circuit chip further comprises: coupling the plurality of tester channels through said second test card to said second group of the plurality of pins; and coupling said first group of the plurality of pins to said at least one reference potential, each pin in said first group being coupled to exactly one reference potential.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of testing a first portion of the integrated circuit chip further comprises the steps of: performing functional tests on said first portion of the integrated circuit chip; and performing parametric tests on said first portion of the integrated circuit chip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of testing a second portion of the integrated circuit chip further comprises the steps of: performing functional tests on said second portion of the integrated circuit chip; and performing parametric tests on said second portion of the integrated circuit chip.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for testing a programmable logic device with a tester having a plurality of tester channels, the method comprising the steps of: providing the programmable logic device having a plurality of user pins and a plurality of test pins, said plurality of user pins and said plurality of test pins being greater than the plurality of tester channels; providing a first test card and a second test card; coupling the plurality of tester channels through said first test card to the programmable logic device; testing a first portion of the programmable logic device; coupling the plurality of tester channels through said second test card to the programmable logic device; and testing a second portion of the programmable logic device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for testing a programmable logic device with a tester having a plurality of tester channels, the method comprising the steps of: providing the programmable logic device having a plurality of user pins and a plurality of test pins, said plurality of user pins and said plurality of test pins being greater than the plurality of tester channels; providing a first test card and a second test card; coupling the plurality of tester channels through said first test card to the programmable logic device; testing a first portion of the programmable logic device; coupling the plurality of tester channels through said second test card to the programmable logic device; and testing a second portion of the programmable logic device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of repeating said coupling and testing steps if necessary until all of the plurality of user pins have been coupled to the plurality of tester channels and the programmable logic device has been fully tested by the tester.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said step of coupling the plurality of tester channels through said first test card to the programmable logic device further comprises: coupling the plurality of tester channels through said first test card to said plurality of test pins and to a first group of said plurality of user pins; and coupling a second group of the plurality of user pins to at least one reference potential, each pin in said second group being coupled to exactly one reference potential.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said step of coupling the plurality of tester channels through said second test card to the programmable logic device further comprises: coupling the plurality of tester channels through said first test card to said plurality of test pins and to said second group of said plurality of user pins; and coupling said first group of the plurality of user pins to said at least one reference potential, each pin in said first group being coupled to exactly one reference potential.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the step of testing a first portion of the programmable logic device further comprises the steps of: programming said first portion of the programmable logic device through said plurality of test pins and said first group of said plurality of user pins with a first group of test patterns from the tester; exercising said first group of test patterns in the programmable logic device with a first group of test vectors from the tester; and repeating said programming and exercising steps until said first portion of the programmable logic device has been fully tested by the tester.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the step of testing a second portion of the programmable logic device further comprises the steps of: programming said second portion of the programmable logic device through said plurality of test pins and said second group of said plurality of user pins with a second group of test patterns from the tester; exercising said second group of test patterns in the programmable logic device with a second group of test vectors from the tester; and repeating said programming and exercising steps until said second portion of the programmable logic device has been fully tested by the tester.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
A test apparatus comprising: an integrated circuit chip having a plurality of signal pins; an integrated circuit chip tester having a plurality of tester channels, said plurality of signal pins being greater than said plurality of tester channels; and a plurality of test cards, each test card coupling said plurality of tester channels to a selected group of said plurality of signal pins.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
A test apparatus comprising: an integrated circuit chip having a plurality of signal pins; an integrated circuit chip tester having a plurality of tester channels, said plurality of signal pins being greater than said plurality of tester channels; and a plurality of test cards, each test card coupling said plurality of tester channels to a selected group of said plurality of signal pins.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
The test apparatus of claim 14 wherein said plurality of test cards further comprises: a first test card coupling said plurality of tester channels to said a first group of said plurality of signal pins; and a second test card coupling said plurality of tester channels to a second group of said plurality of signal pins.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The test apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first test card further comprises at least one reference potential coupled to said second group of said plurality of signal pins, each pin in said second group being coupled to exactly one reference potential.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The test apparatus of claim 14 wherein said second test card further comprises at least one reference potential coupled to said first group of said plurality of signal pins, each pin in said first group being coupled to exactly one reference potential.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The test apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first group of said plurality of signal pins and said second group of said plurality of signal pins have one or more signal pins in common.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
A test apparatus comprising: a programmable logic device (PLD) having a plurality of test pins and a plurality of user pins; a PLD tester having a plurality of tester channels, said plurality of test pins and said plurality of user pins being greater than said plurality of tester channels; and a plurality of test cards, each test card coupling said plurality of tester channels to said plurality of test pins and a selected group of said plurality of user pins.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
80 words
A test apparatus comprising: a programmable logic device (PLD) having a plurality of test pins and a plurality of user pins; a PLD tester having a plurality of tester channels, said plurality of test pins and said plurality of user pins being greater than said plurality of tester channels; and a plurality of test cards, each test card coupling said plurality of tester channels to said plurality of test pins and a selected group of said plurality of user pins.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
67 words
The test apparatus of claim 19 wherein said plurality of test cards further comprises: a first test card coupling said plurality of tester channels to said plurality of test pins and a first group of said plurality of user pins; and a second test card coupling said plurality of tester channels to said plurality of test pins and a second group of said plurality of user pins.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The test apparatus of claim 20 wherein said first test card further comprises at least one reference potential coupled to said second group of said plurality of user pins, each pin in said second group being coupled to exactly one reference potential.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The test apparatus of claim 20 wherein said second test card further comprises at least one reference potential coupled to said first group of said plurality of user pins, each pin in said first group being coupled to exactly one reference potential.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The test apparatus of claim 20 wherein said first group of said plurality of user pins and said second group of said plurality of user pins have one or more user pins in common.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
90 words
The test apparatus of claim 19 wherein said PLD tester further comprises: a first group of test patterns for programming a first portion of said programmable logic device; a first group of test vectors for exercising said first group of test patterns in said first portion of said programmable logic device; a second group of test patterns for programming a second portion of said programmable logic device; and a second group of test vectors for exercising said second group of test patterns in second portion of said programmable logic device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system comprising a programmable logic device tested by the method recited in claim 8.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system comprising a programmable logic device tested by the apparatus recited in claim 19.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit chip having a plurality of pins comprising the steps of: preparing and fabricating an electrical circuit on a semiconductor wafer; and verifying the electrical circuit with a tester having a plurality of tester channels, said verifying step comprising the steps of: providing a first test card and a second test card; coupling the plurality of tester channels through said first test card to the integrated circuit chip; testing a first portion of the integrated circuit chip; coupling the plurality of tester channels through said second test card to the integrated circuit chip; and testing a second portion of the integrated circuit chip.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit chip having a plurality of pins comprising the steps of: preparing and fabricating an electrical circuit on a semiconductor wafer; and verifying the electrical circuit with a tester having a plurality of tester channels, said verifying step comprising the steps of: providing a first test card and a second test card; coupling the plurality of tester channels through said first test card to the integrated circuit chip; testing a first portion of the integrated circuit chip; coupling the plurality of tester channels through said second test card to the integrated circuit chip; and testing a second portion of the integrated circuit chip.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of repeating said coupling and testing steps if necessary until all of the plurality of pins have been coupled to the plurality of tester channels and all portions of the integrated circuit chip have been fully tested by the tester.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the plurality of pins is greater than the plurality of tester channels.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said step of coupling the plurality of tester channels through said first test card to the integrated circuit chip further comprises: coupling the plurality of tester channels through said first test card to a first group of the plurality of pins; and coupling a second group of the plurality of pins to at least one reference potential, each pin in said second group being coupled to exactly one reference potential.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said step of coupling the plurality of tester channels through said second test card to the integrated circuit chip further comprises: coupling the plurality of tester channels through said second test card to said second group of the plurality of pins; and coupling said first group of the plurality of pins to said at least one reference potential, each pin in said first group being coupled to exactly one reference potential.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said step of testing a first portion of the integrated circuit chip further comprises the steps of: performing functional tests on said first portion of the integrated circuit chip; and performing parametric tests on said first portion of the integrated circuit chip.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 27 wherein said step of testing a second portion of the integrated circuit chip further comprises the steps of: performing functional tests on said second portion of the integrated circuit chip; and performing parametric tests on said second portion of the integrated circuit chip.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-03 | 2000-09-02 | 2001-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-03 | 2004-09-02 | 2005-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-03 | 2008-09-02 | 2009-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |