Abstract: A mounting means for a semiconductor integrated circuit, the mounting means comprising a semiconductor material having a mounting surface as one major surface thereof, a semiconductor integrated circuit mounted on the major surface of the semiconductor material, and means for electrically connecting the integrated circuit to the semiconductor material. The mounting means has a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to the semiconductor integrated circuit mounted thereon.

Abstract: A method for allowing the user of a data processor having a power-down instruction to selectively disable the power-down instruction. In the preferred circuit, the user stores a special code in a control register indicating that the power-down instruction is to be disabled. Upon a power-down instruction being subsequently executed, the processor is precluded by the code from turning off the oscillator which provides the system clocks. The method and circuit allows the code to be stored in the control register once and only once between system resets.

Abstract: A method for the prevention of dopant diffusion from the back side of a doped semiconductor substrate during epitaxial layer growth. The entire surface of the substrate is first covered with a cleanly etchable material. Around the entire first layer is formed a second dopant diffusion barrier layer. The front sides of the layers are then selectively etched away to expose the front side of the substrate upon which the epitaxial layer will be grown without contamination of dopant diffusion from the sealed back side of the substrate.

Abstract: A state machine in which the next state signals are biased by the next state encoder very close to the switch voltage of the input transistors of the present state latches to improve the response time of the state machine. Charge sharing on the outputs of the next state selector is prevented from affecting the biased next state signals by voltage substaining circuitry. By pre-encoding input signals pertinent to each state using separate input logic, the size of the next state selector is minimized, further improving the response time of the state machine. Selected present state latches may be prevented from changing state by gating the next state signals.

Abstract: A two stage synchronizer circuit for synchronizing an asynchronous input signal with a local clock signal includes a reference inverter for generating a reference signal, a first sense amplifier for amplifying the difference between the reference signal and the asynchronous input signal, buffer inverters coupled to the output on the sense amplifier, a second sense amplifier coupled to the output of the buffer inverters, and an output inverter for delivering the desired synchronized signal. The reference inverter and the first and second buffer inverters have the same switch point so as to substantially reduce the probability of the generation of a meta-stable output. Furthermore, the first and second sense amplifiers and output inverter also have the same switch point as the reference inverter.

Abstract: A low cost process for bonding a plurality of integrated circuit die to a variety of die support frames using existing, readily available equipment. Tape automatic bonding (TAB) processes offer a number of new possibilities in the assembly and packaging of integrated circuits. However, the investigation of TAB techniques or the use of TAB techniques on low volume parts is prohibited by the high cost of "bumping" or putting interconnection balls on the chip or the tape leads. The process permits placing balls on the bonding pads of a plurality of die by a wire bonder, cutting off the wire, planarizing the balls, coating the planarized region with a conductive epoxy and then registering and bonding the die to corresponding conductive patterns on die support frames.

Abstract: A row decoder includes a logic decoder, a word line driver circuit, and first and second coupling circuits. The logic decoder provides a logic high in an inactive cycle and when selected in an active cycle, and a logic low when deselected in the active cycle. Each of a plurality of word line driver circuits receive a decoded address signal which corresponds to that particular driver circuit, each have an output coupled to a corresponding word line, and each have an input which, when at a logic high, causes that word line driver to couple its corresponding decoded address signal to its corresponding word line. The first coupling circuit couples the output of the logic decoder to the input of only the driver circuit which corresponds to an active decoded address signal during the active cycle, and for coupling the output of the logic decoder to all of the driver circuits in the inactive cycle.

Abstract: A memory circuit has a plurality of bit line pairs and intersecting word lines with a memory cell located at each such intersection. A column address selects the bit line which is to be accessed and a row address selects the word line which is enabled. In response to being selected, a bit line is coupled to a data line. In response to a column address transition, all of the bit lines are decoupled from the data lines while bit lines are precharged. In response to a row address transition, the word lines are disabled while the bit lines are equilibrated.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package having a plurality of leads capable of holding a quantity of solder paste prior to bonding to a printed circuit board or other substrate. The solder paste bearing structure may be straight or spiral grooves, or even a slot or roughened surface, running down at least the lower length of the leads as long as some mechanism is present which will first hold the solder paste or other electrically conductive binder on the lead and then deliver the binder to the end of the lead to produce an electrical and structural bond in a binder flowing operation. Application of the solder paste to the leads is accomplished by simply dipping the package leads into the paste thereby eliminating the need to make a solder mask for the substrate as well as the task of aligning the mask to the substrate.

Abstract: A voltage detecting circuit is provided for generating an output signal when an input signal exceeds the power supply voltage by a predetermined amount. A reference current is established by an output stage using a first current mirror. A second current mirror is connected to the output stage and detects the input voltage level by forcing a greater or lesser amount of current through the output stage to provide a high or low level output voltage.

Abstract: A memory circuit has a plurality of bit line pairs and intersecting word lines with a memory cell located at each such intersection. A column address selects the bit line which is to be accessed and a row address selects the word line which is enabled. Memory cells along an enabled word line cause the bit lines to develop a voltage differential. In response to a change in the row address the bit lines are equalized and precharged. In response to a change in the column address, the bit lines are precharged without being equalized so that the developed voltage differential on the bit lines is maintained.

Abstract: An integrated bipolar RAM cell and process for its manufacture is disclosed. The RAM cell includes first and second cross-coupled bipolar transistors with first and second load elements coupled to the collectors of the first and second transistors, respectively. The load elements can be, for example, diode clamped resistors or lateral PNP transistors. The load elements include regions which are capable of injecting minority carriers into the collectors of the first and second transistors. To avoid charge storage problems and associated reduced switching speed while maintaining high voltage noise immunity, the charge injecting regions are fabricated having an integrated impurity doping less than or equal to about 1.times.10.sup.13 cm.sup.-2.

Abstract: A data processing system having apparatus for selectively executing nested do loops with minimum overhead is provided. The apparatus may be added to a system which executes do loops. The method of execution of the do loops may be any of a myriad of conventional methods. Memory storage is provided for storing the number of iterations remaining in a do loop and an active loop flag. The active loop flag indicates that a do loop is active and enables the do loop apparatus. The active loop flag also indicates whether the data stored in memory is associated with an active loop. New parameters relating to the nested do loop may be used by the same circuitry which executes the do loop thereby eliminating duplication of circuitry. Upon termination of the nested do loop, the memory storage restores the information required to complete the do loop by the apparatus.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for controllably providing dielectrically isolated semiconductor regions having a uniform and well defined thickness. Grooves are formed in a first surface of a semiconductor substrate and then a dielectric layer is formed covering that surface and the grooves extending into the surface. A layer of backing material such as polycrystalline silicon is formed overlying the dielectric layer. A semiconductor substrate is then thinned to form a new surface with portions of the dielectric layer and backing material exposed at that surface. A semiconductor layer is epitaxially grown overlying the new surface with the semiconductor layer having a monocrystalline structure where it is grown on exposed regions of the original substrate and having a polycrystalline structure otherwise. An oxidation masking layer is formed overlying those portions of the semiconductor layer which have a monocrystalline structure.

Abstract: A data processor having size selector in a controller for explicitly selecting the size of an operand independent of an instruction in an instruction register, together with means for selectively enabling the instruction register or other functional block, or a size selector to select the size of the operand. A size bus and a size multiplexer are also provided to route the size instructions. By using this size mechanism, the amount of sequencing and control logic is significantly reduced from prior data processors. The mechanism allows operations of different sizes to be performed during a single instruction while allowing instruction dependent sizing to be done residually.

Abstract: In a microcomputer, an address mapper allows the user to selectively map a resource which is ordinarily addressable in one portion of the address range of the microcomputer into a correspondingly sized area elsewhere in the address range. Using a resource map address stored by the user in an addressable map register, the mapper continuously compares the map address to a corresponding number of bits on the microcomputer's address bus. When a match is detected, the mapper enables the address decoder of the mapped resource. The mapper can also map the map register. Since the mapper can map more than one resource, an interlock mechanism resolves access conflicts.

Abstract: A register circuit for serial transmission or reception of digital data in a microprocessor controlled system is provided. A first plurality of rank ordered latches is provided to receive in parallel data to be transmitted. A second plurality of rank ordered latches is provided wherein each of the second plurality of latches except the highest ranked latch interconnects the first plurality of latches. The first and second plurality of latches function together to serially clock output data to be transmitted. The two pluralities of latches form a single register circuit which also serially receives data and latches the received data in response to a control circuit implemented as a "walking one" register. After the serially received data is latched, the data is provided for use by the microprocessor controlled system in parallel output form.

Abstract: A circuit for selectively determining whether a first number is greater than or equal to or less than or equal to a second number, comprising a means for adding a first number and a complementary function of a second number, and logic means for generating a signal for carry-in and for combination with a carry-out of the means for adding for producing a signal indicative of whether the second number is within the parameters established by the first number and the carry-in.

Abstract: An input structure which is parasitic insensitive and allows a fully differential amplifier to receive a single input voltage while maintaining a predetermined common-mode input voltage is provided. A single input voltage is charged onto two capacitors which are coupled in series between the input voltage and a predetermined common-mode reference voltage terminal during a first time period. During a second time period, the two capacitors are reconfigured so that each capacitor is connected between the reference voltage terminal and a predetermined one of the inputs of the fully differential amplifier. Due to the balanced nature of the input structure, all parasitic capacitance error terms are rejected by the differential amplifier.