Patents by Inventor Eugen H. Cloud

Eugen H. Cloud 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).

  • Device and method for isolating a short-circuited integrated circuit (IC) from other ICs on a semiconductor wafer
    Patent number: 7212020
    Abstract: A circuit for isolating a short-circuited integrated circuit (IC) formed on the surface of a semiconductor wafer from other ICs formed on the wafer that are interconnected with the short-circuited IC includes control circuitry within the short-circuited IC for sensing the short circuit. The control circuitry may sense the short circuit in a variety of ways, including sensing excessive current drawn by the short-circuited IC, and sensing an abnormally low or high voltage within the short-circuited IC. Switching circuitry also within the short-circuited IC selectively isolates the short-circuited IC from the other ICs on the wafer in response to the control circuitry sensing the short circuit. As a result, if the wafer is under probe test, for example, testing can continue uninterrupted on the other ICs while the short-circuited IC is isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, William K. Waller, Leland R. Nevill, Raymond J. Beffa, Eugen H. Cloud