Patents by Inventor Brian C. Noble

Brian C. Noble has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9535113
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for testing semiconductor products that combines multiple techniques. Depending on the requirements, different ones of the techniques are emphasized over the other techniques. The testing applies a technique to achieve a higher single defect acceleration parameter at the expense of a second parameter, thus enabling acceleration of defects that require higher voltage or higher temperature than a traditional “Burn In” can achieve, which defects would otherwise go unaccelerated. The method manages the adaptation of the different techniques, e.g., how it decides to favor one technique over the other, and how it carries out the favoring of one or more particular techniques in a given test situation. Thus, acceleration to defectivity (defect type and quantity) may be tailored in real time by uniquely leveraging the duration spent in a given section of a process flow based on the prevalence of unique defect types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Grosch, Gregory V. Miller, Brian C. Noble, Ann L. Swift, Joel Thomas, Jody J. Van Horn
  • Patent number: 8854073
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for margin testing integrated circuits. The method includes selecting a clock frequency, an operating temperature range and a power supply voltage level for margin testing an integrated circuit wherein one or more of the clock frequency, the operating temperature range and the power supply voltage level is outside of the normal operating conditions of the integrated circuit; applying an asynchronously time varying power supply voltage set to the selected power supply voltage level to the integrated circuit; running the integrated circuit chip at the selected clock frequency and maintaining the integrated circuit within the selected temperature range; applying a continuous test pattern to the integrated circuit; and monitoring the integrated circuit for fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Grosch, Marc D. Knox, Erik A. Nelson, Brian C. Noble
  • Publication number: 20130069678
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for margin testing integrated circuits. The method includes selecting a clock frequency, an operating temperature range and a power supply voltage level for margin testing an integrated circuit wherein one or more of the clock frequency, the operating temperature range and the power supply voltage level is outside of the normal operating conditions of the integrated circuit; applying an asynchronously time varying power supply voltage set to the selected power supply voltage level to the integrated circuit; running the integrated circuit chip at the selected clock frequency and maintaining the integrated circuit within the selected temperature range; applying a continuous test pattern to the integrated circuit; and monitoring the integrated circuit for fails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Grosch, Marc D. Knox, Erik A. Nelson, Brian C. Noble
  • Patent number: 6599774
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided comprising a stacked integrated circuit chip assembly wherein the top chip of the assembly is solder connected to the surface of an interconnection substrate with the other chips of the assembly being enclosed in a cavity in the interconnection substrate wherein the cavity and electrical connections of the assembly and between the substrate and top chip are sealed by supplying an encapsulant to the cavity through a through opening in the substrate which communicates with the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric B. Hultmark, Brian C. Noble
  • Publication number: 20010021542
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided comprising a stacked integrated circuit chip assembly wherein the top chip of the assembly is solder connected to the surface of an interconnection substrate with the other chips of the assembly being enclosed in a cavity in the interconnection substrate wherein the cavity and electrical connections of the assembly and between the substrate and top chip are sealed by supplying an encapsulant to the cavity through a through opening in the substrate which communicates with the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric B. Hultmark, Brian C. Noble
  • Patent number: 6232667
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided comprising a stacked integrated circuit chip assembly wherein the top chip of the assembly is solder connected to the surface of an interconnection substrate with the other chips of the assembly being enclosed in a cavity in the interconnection substrate wherein the cavity and electrical connections of the assembly and between the substrate and top chip are sealed by supplying an encapsulant to the cavity through a through opening in the substrate which communicates with the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric B. Hultmark, Brian C. Noble