Abstract: A system and method for die crack detection in a CMOS bonded array includes a capacitor that is formed in an edge seal, where one of the capacitor plates is in the edge seal portion of a first wafer, and the other capacitor plate is in the edge seal portion of a second wafer. A crack in the die can be detected by applying an alternating current waveform to a testing contact on the integrated circuit and monitoring for a shift in the alternating current waveform, as a crack would cause modulation in the capacitance.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are provided for detecting a short circuit between pins of an integrated circuit package. The tested pins can be adjacent or non-adjacent on the package. Various types of short circuits can be detected, including resistive, diode and capacitive short circuits. Additionally, short circuits of a single pin can be tested, including a short circuit to a power supply or to ground. The test circuit includes a current mirror, where the input path has a first path connected to a first pin and a parallel second path connected to a second pin. A comparator is connected to the output path of the current mirror. By controlling the on and off states of transistors in the first and second paths, and evaluating the voltage of the output path, the short circuits can be detected.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including an integrated module formed of a first semiconductor die coupled to a second semiconductor die. Each of the first and second semiconductor dies includes a number of bond pads, which are bonded to each other to form the integrated module. Each bond pad may be divided into a number of discrete pad legs. While the overall footprint of each bond pad on the first and second semiconductor dies may be the same, the bond pads on one of the dies may have a larger number of pad legs.

Abstract: A system and method for die crack detection in a CMOS bonded array includes a capacitor that is formed in an edge seal, where one of the capacitor plates is in the edge seal portion of a first wafer, and the other capacitor plate is in the edge seal portion of a second wafer. A crack in the die can be detected by applying an alternating current waveform to a testing contact on the integrated circuit and monitoring for a shift in the alternating current waveform, as a crack would cause modulation in the capacitance.

Abstract: A system and method for warpage detection in a CMOS bonded array includes a conductor positioned between bonded contact pads of first and second wafers. The conductor is connected to a continuity check circuit. If the continuity check circuit detects an interruption in conductivity of the conductor, such interruption is indicative of warpage in the first and/or second wafers. In one implementation, the conductor is a serpentine-shaped structure.

Abstract: A method including stacking a number of silicon dice such that one or more edges of the dice are in vertical alignment, where the one or more edges include a number of connection pads. The method also includes positioning a connecting wire on a substantially perpendicular axis to the one or more edges. The connecting wire includes a number of solder blocks formed thereon. The solder blocks are spaced at intervals associated with a distance between a first set of aligned connection pads on the dice. The connecting wire is positioned such that the solder blocks are in contact with the first set of aligned connection pads. The method also includes applying heat to cause the solder blocks to reflow and physically and electrically couple the connecting wire to the connection pads.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a semiconductor device including semiconductor dies formed with vertical die bond pads on an edge of the dies. During wafer fabrication, vertical bond pad blocks are formed in scribe lines of the wafer and electrically coupled to the die bond pads of the semiconductor dies. The vertical bond pad blocks are cut through during wafer dicing, thereby leaving large, vertically oriented pads exposed on a vertical edge of each semiconductor die.

Abstract: A fractured semiconductor die is disclosed, together with a semiconductor device including the fractured semiconductor die. During fabrication of the semiconductor dies in a wafer, the wafer may be scored in a series of parallel scribe lines through portions of each row of semiconductor dies. The scribe lines then propagate through the full thickness of the wafer to fracture off a portion of each of the semiconductor dies. It may happen that electrical traces such as bit lines in the memory cell arrays short together during the die fracture process. These electrical shorts may be cleared by running a current through each of the electrical traces.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are provided for detecting a short circuit between pins of an integrated circuit package. The tested pins can be adjacent or non-adjacent on the package. Various types of short circuits can be detected, including resistive, diode and capacitive short circuits. Additionally, short circuits of a single pin can be tested, including a short circuit to a power supply or to ground. The test circuit includes a current mirror, where the input path has a first path connected to a first pin and a parallel second path connected to a second pin. A comparator is connected to the output path of the current mirror. By controlling the on and off states of transistors in the first and second paths, and evaluating the voltage of the output path, the short circuits can be detected.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a semiconductor device including semiconductor dies formed with vertical die bond pads on an edge of the dies. During wafer fabrication, vertical bond pad blocks are formed in scribe lines of the wafer and electrically coupled to the die bond pads of the semiconductor dies. The vertical bond pad blocks are cut through during wafer dicing, thereby leaving large, vertically oriented pads exposed on a vertical edge of each semiconductor die.

Abstract: A fractured semiconductor die is disclosed, together with a semiconductor device including the fractured semiconductor die. During fabrication of the semiconductor dies in a wafer, the wafer may be scored in a series of parallel scribe lines through portions of each row of semiconductor dies. The scribe lines then propagate through the full thickness of the wafer to fracture off a portion of each of the semiconductor dies. It may happen that electrical traces such as bit lines in the memory cell arrays short together during the die fracture process. These electrical shorts may be cleared by running a current through each of the electrical traces.

Abstract: A fractured semiconductor die is disclosed, together with a semiconductor device including the fractured semiconductor die. During fabrication of the semiconductor dies in a wafer, the wafer may be scored in a series of parallel scribe lines through portions of each row of semiconductor dies. The scribe lines then propagate through the full thickness of the wafer to fracture off a portion of each of the semiconductor dies. It may happen that electrical traces such as bit lines in the memory cell arrays short together during the die fracture process. These electrical shorts may be cleared by running a current through each of the electrical traces.

Abstract: Consecutive logical block addresses (LBAs) are mapped to consecutive good blocks in a sequence of blocks in a memory device. For each bad block, a mapping process substitutes a next available good block. For a selected LBA, the mapping process determines a number X>1 of bad blocks before, and including, a corresponding block in the sequence, a number Y of bad blocks in the X blocks after the corresponding block in the sequence, and maps the LBA to a block which is X+Y blocks after the corresponding block, or, if the block which is X+Y blocks after the corresponding block is a bad block, to a next good block. The mapping technique can be used for a sequence of blocks in a trimmed die, where a bad block register stores physical block addresses of the trimmed away blocks.

Abstract: A method for detecting faults in a memory system includes performing an operation on at least one memory cell of the memory system. The method also includes receiving, during performance of the operation, a first clock cycle count for a first pulse of a charge pump associated with the at least one memory cell. The method also includes receiving, during performance of the operation, a second clock cycle count for a second pulse of the charge pump. The method also includes determining whether a fault will occur based on a difference between the first clock cycle count and the second clock cycle count.

Abstract: Consecutive logical block addresses (LBAs) are mapped to consecutive good blocks in a sequence of blocks in a memory device. For each bad block, a mapping process substitutes a next available good block. For a selected LBA, the mapping process determines a number X>1 of bad blocks before, and including, a corresponding block in the sequence, a number Y of bad blocks in the X blocks after the corresponding block in the sequence, and maps the LBA to a block which is X+Y blocks after the corresponding block, or, if the block which is X+Y blocks after the corresponding block is a bad block, to a next good block. The mapping technique can be used for a sequence of blocks in a trimmed die, where a bad block register stores physical block addresses of the trimmed away blocks.

Abstract: A memory management method includes identifying memory segments of a memory device. The method also includes identifying, for each memory segment, a number of faulty columns and determining a total number of faulty columns for the memory device. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the total number of faulty columns is greater than a threshold, identifying a memory segment having a highest number of faulty columns. The method also includes disabling the memory segment. Another method includes identifying, for each memory segment, a number of faulty memory blocks and determining a total number of faulty memory blocks. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the total number of faulty memory blocks is greater than a threshold, identifying a memory segment having a highest number of faulty memory blocks. The method also includes disabling the memory segment.

Abstract: An apparatus includes non-volatile memory and a control circuit configured to program the non-volatile memory. The control circuit is configured to change a programming order. In one aspect, the control circuit changes the order in which word lines are programmed from one point in time to another. In one aspect, the control circuit uses one order for programming one set of word lines and a different order for a different set of word lines. The sets of word lines could be in different sub-blocks, memory blocks, or memory dies. Such programming order differences can improve performance of error recovery.

Abstract: Systems and methods for die crack detection are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a die includes a first conductive segment, an intermediate conductive segment, and a second conductive segment. The crack detection ring substantially surrounds the die according to a serpentine path having a plurality of legs, wherein each leg intersects the first conductive segment at a first intersection, an intermediate conductive segment at an intermediate intersection and a second conductive segment at a second intersection, wherein the intermediate intersection is horizontally offset from at least the first intersection and the second intersection.

Abstract: A method for detecting faults in a memory system includes performing an operation on at least one memory cell of the memory system. The method also includes receiving, during performance of the operation, a first clock cycle count for a first pulse of a charge pump associated with the at least one memory cell. The method also includes receiving, during performance of the operation, a second clock cycle count for a second pulse of the charge pump. The method also includes determining whether a fault will occur based on a difference between the first clock cycle count and the second clock cycle count.

Abstract: A partial memory die comprises a memory structure that includes a first plane of non-volatile memory cells and a second plane of non-volatile memory cells. The second plane of non-volatile memory cells is incomplete. A first buffer is connected to the first plane. A second buffer is connected to the second plane. A data path circuit is connected to an input interface, the first buffer and the second buffer. The data path circuit is configured to map data received at the input interface and route the mapped data to either the first buffer or the second buffer. An inter-plane re-mapping circuit is connected to the first buffer and the second buffer, and is configured to re-map data from the first buffer and store the re-mapped data in the second buffer for programming into the second plane.