Patents by Inventor Daniel J. Fainstein

Daniel J. Fainstein 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: 9194912
    Abstract: A method and system for testing one or more semiconductor structures, for example, chips or wafers, in a three-dimensional stack. The method and system includes controlling a logic signal of a first circuit in a first chip or wafer connected to a supply voltage to indicate a first state during pre-assembly testing of the first chip or wafer. The method and system further includes controlling the logic signal to indicate a second state when the first circuit is connected to a second circuit of a second chip or wafer resulting in a combined circuit. The combined circuit is in a three-dimensional chip or wafer stack during post-assembly testing of the three-dimensional chip or wafer stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norman W. Robson, Daniel J. Fainstein
  • Publication number: 20140145750
    Abstract: A method and system for testing one or more semiconductor structures, for example, chips or wafers, in a three-dimensional stack. The method and system includes controlling a logic signal of a first circuit in a first chip or wafer connected to a supply voltage to indicate a first state during pre-assembly testing of the first chip or wafer. The method and system further includes controlling the logic signal to indicate a second state when the first circuit is connected to a second circuit of a second chip or wafer resulting in a combined circuit. The combined circuit is in a three-dimensional chip or wafer stack during post-assembly testing of the three-dimensional chip or wafer stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norman W. Robson, Daniel J. Fainstein
  • Patent number: 8590010
    Abstract: A random intrinsic chip ID generation employs a retention fail signature. A 1st and 2nd ID are generated using testing settings with a 1st setting more restrictive than the 2nd, creating more fails in the 1st ID bit string that includes 2nd ID bit string. A retention pause time controls the number of retention fails, adjusted by a BIST engine, wherein the fail numbers satisfy a predetermined fail target. Verification confirms whether the 1st ID includes the 2nd ID bit string, the ID being the one used for authentication. Authentication is enabled by a 3rd ID with intermediate condition such that 1st ID includes 3rd ID bit string and 3rd ID includes 2nd ID bit string. The intermediate condition includes a guard-band to eliminate bit instability problem near the 1st and 2nd ID boundary. The intermediate condition is changed at each ID read operation, resulting in a more secure identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Fainstein, Alberto Cestero, Subramanian S. Iyer, Toshiaki Kirihata, Norman W. Robson, Sami Rosenblatt
  • Publication number: 20130133031
    Abstract: A random intrinsic chip ID generation employs a retention fail signature. A 1st and 2nd ID are generated using testing settings with a 1st setting more restrictive than the 2nd, creating more fails in the 1st ID bit string that includes 2nd ID bit string. A retention pause time controls the number of retention fails, adjusted by a BIST engine, wherein the fail numbers satisfy a predetermined fail target. Verification confirms whether the 1st ID includes the 2nd ID bit string, the ID being the one used for authentication. Authentication is enabled by a 3rd ID with intermediate condition such that 1st ID includes 3rd ID bit string and 3rd ID includes 2nd ID bit string. The intermediate condition includes a guard-band to eliminate bit instability problem near the 1st and 2nd ID boundary. The intermediate condition is changed at each ID read operation, resulting in a more secure identification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Fainstein, Alberto Cestero, Subramanian S. Iyer, Toshiaki Kirihata, Norman W. Robson, Sami Rosenblatt