Patents by Inventor David A. Grosch

David A. Grosch 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: 7759960
    Abstract: Methods for testing a semiconductor circuit (10) including testing the circuit and modifying a well bias (14, 18) of the circuit during testing. The methods improve the resolution of voltage-based and IDDQ testing and diagnosis by modifying well bias during testing. In addition, the methods provide more efficient stresses during stress testing. The methods apply to ICs where the semiconductor well (wells and/or substrates) are wired separately from the chip VDD and GND, allowing for external control (40) of the well potentials during test. In general, the methods rely on using the well bias to change transistor threshold voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anne E. Gattiker, David A. Grosch, Marc D. Knox, Franco Motika, Phil Nigh, Jody Van Horn, Paul S. Zuchowski
  • Patent number: 7564256
    Abstract: Methods for testing a semiconductor circuit (10) including testing the circuit and modifying a well bias (14, 18) of the circuit during testing. The methods improve the resolution of voltage-based and IDDQ testing and diagnosis by modifying well bias during testing. In addition, the methods provide more efficient stresses during stress testing. The methods apply to ICs where the semiconductor well (wells and/or substrates) are wired separately from the chip VDD and GND, allowing for external control (40) of the well potentials during test. In general, the methods rely on using the well bias to change transistor threshold voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Company
    Inventors: Anne Gattiker, David A. Grosch, Marc D. Knox, Franco Motika, Phil Nigh, Jody Van Horn, Paul S. Zuchowski
  • Patent number: 7486098
    Abstract: A method for testing a semiconductor circuit (10) including testing the circuit and modifying a well bias (14, 18) of the circuit during testing. The method improves the resolution of IDDQ testing and diagnosis by modifying well bias during testing. The method applies to ICs where the semiconductor well (wells and/or substrates) are wired separately from the chip VDD and GND, allowing for external control (40) of the well potentials during test. In general, the method relies on using the well bias to change transistor threshold voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anne Gattiker, David A. Grosch, Marc D. Knox, Franco Motika, Phil Nigh, Jody Van Horn, Paul S. Zuchowski
  • Publication number: 20080211531
    Abstract: Methods for testing a semiconductor circuit (10) including testing the circuit and modifying a well bias (14, 18) of the circuit during testing. The methods improve the resolution of voltage-based and IDDQ testing and diagnosis by modifying well bias during testing. In addition, the methods provide more efficient stresses during stress testing. The methods apply to ICs where the semiconductor well (wells and/or substrates) are wired separately from the chip VDD and GND, allowing for external control (40) of the well potentials during test. In general, the methods rely on using the well bias to change transistor threshold voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Anne E. Gattiker, David A. Grosch, Marc D. Knox, Franco Motika, Phil Nigh, Jody Van Horn, Paul S. Zuchowski
  • Publication number: 20080211530
    Abstract: Methods for testing a semiconductor circuit (10) including testing the circuit and modifying a well bias (14, 18) of the circuit during testing. The methods improve the resolution of voltage-based and IDDQ testing and diagnosis by modifying well bias during testing. In addition, the methods provide more efficient stresses during stress testing. The methods apply to ICs where the semiconductor well (wells and/or substrates) are wired separately from the chip VDD and GND, allowing for external control (40) of the well potentials during test. In general, the methods rely on using the well bias to change transistor threshold voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Anne E. Gattiker, David A. Grosch, Marc D. Knox, Franco Motika, Phil Nigh, Jody Van Horn, Paul S. Zuchowski
  • Patent number: 7400162
    Abstract: Methods for testing a semiconductor circuit (10) including testing the circuit and modifying a well bias (14, 18) of the circuit during testing. The methods improve the resolution of voltage-based and IDDQ testing and diagnosis by modifying well bias during testing. In addition, the methods provide more efficient stresses during stress testing. The methods apply to ICs where the semiconductor well (wells and/or substrates) are wired separately from the chip VDD and GND, allowing for external control (40) of the well potentials during test. In general, the methods rely on using the well bias to change transistor threshold voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anne Gattiker, David A. Grosch, Marc D. Knox, Franco Motika, Phil Nigh, Jody Van Horn, Paul S. Zuchowski
  • Publication number: 20080036486
    Abstract: Methods for testing a semiconductor circuit (10) including testing the circuit and modifying a well bias (14, 18) of the circuit during testing. The methods improve the resolution of voltage-based and IDDQ testing and diagnosis by modifying well bias during testing. In addition, the methods provide more efficient stresses during stress testing. The methods apply to ICs where the semiconductor well (wells and/or substrates) are wired separately from the chip VDD and GND, allowing for external control (40) of the well potentials during test. In general, the methods rely on using the well bias to change transistor threshold voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Anne Gattiker, David Grosch, Marc Knox, Franco Motika, Phil Nigh, Jody Van Horn, Paul Zuchowski
  • Publication number: 20060071653
    Abstract: Methods for testing a semiconductor circuit (10) including testing the circuit and modifying a well bias (14, 18) of the circuit during testing. The methods improve the resolution of voltage-based and IDDQ testing and diagnosis by modifying well bias during testing. In addition, the methods provide more efficient stresses during stress testing. The methods apply to ICs where the semiconductor well (wells and/or substrates) are wired separately from the chip VDD and GND, allowing for external control (40) of the well potentials during test. In general, the methods rely on using the well bias to change transistor threshold voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Anne Gattiker, David Grosch, Marc Knox, Franco Motika, Phil Nigh, Jody Van Horn, Paul Zuchowski