Abstract: Disclosed is a method wherein selective voltage binning and leakage power screening of integrated circuit (IC) chips are performed. Additionally, pre-test power-optimized bin reassignments are made on a chip-by-chip basis. Specifically, a leakage power measurement of an IC chip selected from a voltage bin can is compared to a bin-specific leakage power screen value of the next slower voltage bin. If the leakage power measurement is higher, the IC chip will be left in the voltage bin to which it is currently assigned. If the leakage power measurement is lower, the IC chip will be reassigned to that next slower voltage bin. These processes can be iteratively repeated until no slower voltage bins are available or the IC chip cannot be reassigned. IC chips can subsequently be tested according to testing parameters, including the minimum test voltages, associated with the voltage bins to which they are finally assigned.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method wherein selective voltage binning and leakage power screening of integrated circuit (IC) chips are performed. Additionally, pre-test power-optimized bin reassignments are made on a chip-by-chip basis. Specifically, a leakage power measurement of an IC chip selected from a voltage bin can is compared to a bin-specific leakage power screen value of the next slower voltage bin. If the leakage power measurement is higher, the IC chip will be left in the voltage bin to which it is currently assigned. If the leakage power measurement is lower, the IC chip will be reassigned to that next slower voltage bin. These processes can be iteratively repeated until no slower voltage bins are available or the IC chip cannot be reassigned. IC chips can subsequently be tested according to testing parameters, including the minimum test voltages, associated with the voltage bins to which they are finally assigned.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method wherein selective voltage binning and leakage power screening of integrated circuit (IC) chips are performed. Additionally, pre-test power-optimized bin reassignments are made on a chip-by-chip basis. Specifically, a leakage power measurement of an IC chip selected from a voltage bin can is compared to a bin-specific leakage power screen value of the next slower voltage bin. If the leakage power measurement is higher, the IC chip will be left in the voltage bin to which it is currently assigned. If the leakage power measurement is lower, the IC chip will be reassigned to that next slower voltage bin. These processes can be iteratively repeated until no slower voltage bins are available or the IC chip cannot be reassigned. IC chips can subsequently be tested according to testing parameters, including the minimum test voltages, associated with the voltage bins to which they are finally assigned.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for performing threshold voltage (VT)-type transistor sensitive and/or fan-out sensitive selective voltage binning (SVB) to improve SVB accuracy and, thereby product yield and reliability. In the methods, a process distribution for an integrated circuit chip design is divided into process windows, each associated with a corresponding performance range and a corresponding minimum supply voltage. First performance measurements are acquired from first performance monitors associated with first transistors on chips manufactured according to the design. Based on the first performance measurements, the chips are assigned to groups corresponding to the process windows. Second performance measurements are also be acquired from second performance monitors associated with second transistors, which are on the chips and which have either a different VT-type or a different maximum fan-out than the first transistors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method wherein selective voltage binning and leakage power screening of integrated circuit (IC) chips are performed. Additionally, pre-test power-optimized bin reassignments are made on a chip-by-chip basis. Specifically, a leakage power measurement of an IC chip selected from a voltage bin can is compared to a bin-specific leakage power screen value of the next slower voltage bin. If the leakage power measurement is higher, the IC chip will be left in the voltage bin to which it is currently assigned. If the leakage power measurement is lower, the IC chip will be reassigned to that next slower voltage bin. These processes can be iteratively repeated until no slower voltage bins are available or the IC chip cannot be reassigned. IC chips can subsequently be tested according to testing parameters, including the minimum test voltages, associated with the voltage bins to which they are finally assigned.

Abstract: An integrated circuit, a method and a system for designing and a method fabricating the integrated circuit. The method including: (a) generating a photomask level design of an integrated circuit design of the integrated circuit, the photomask level design comprising a multiplicity of integrated circuit element shapes; (b) designating regions of the photomask level design between adjacent integrated circuit element shapes, the designated regions large enough to require placement of fill shapes between the adjacent integrated circuit elements based on fill shape rules, the fill shapes not required for the operation of the integrated circuit; and (c) placing one or more monitor structure shapes of a monitor structure in at least one of the designated regions, the monitor structure not required for the operation of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: The invention provides a circuit that can observe data within shift registers without altering the data. The circuit includes selectors connected to the inputs and outputs of the shift registers. The selectors selectively connect the input with the output of a selected shift register to form a wiring loop for the selected shift register. A control device connected to the wiring loop uses the wiring loop to cause the data to be continually transferred from the output of the selected shift register to the input of the selected shift register and back through the selected shift register in a circular manner. The control device includes a counter used for determining the length of a selected shift register and a set of registers to store, for future use when rotating data in the shift registers, the length of each shift register. The control device also includes a data output accessible from outside the circuit.

Abstract: An integrated circuit, a method and a system for designing and a method fabricating the integrated circuit. The method including: (a) generating a photomask level design of an integrated circuit design of the integrated circuit, the photomask level design comprising a multiplicity of integrated circuit element shapes; (b) designating regions of the photomask level design between adjacent integrated circuit element shapes, the designated regions large enough to require placement of fill shapes between the adjacent integrated circuit elements based on fill shape rules, the fill shapes not required for the operation of the integrated circuit; and (c) placing one or more monitor structure shapes of a monitor structure in at least one of the designated regions, the monitor structure not required for the operation of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method for implementing defect inspection of an integrated circuit includes configuring a power bus grid structure on a first metal interconnect level, the power bus grid structure including a first plurality of wire pairs. The first plurality of wire pairs is arranged in a manner such that a first wire in each of the first plurality of wire pairs is electrically coupled to conductive structures beneath the first metal interconnect level, and a second wire in each of the first plurality of wire pairs is initially electrically isolated from the conductive structures beneath the first metal interconnect level. The first wire in each of the first plurality of wire pairs is biased to a known voltage, and a charge contrast inspection is performed between the first wire and the second wire of each of the first plurality of wire pairs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shielded clock tree that has one or more clock signal buffers and clock signal splitters, with clock signal wiring connecting the clock signal buffers to the clock signal splitters. Shielding is adjacent the clock signal wiring, where ground wiring connects the shielding to ground. The shielding comprises shield wires positioned adjacent and parallel to the clock signal wiring. The invention provides switches in the ground wiring, and these switches are connected to, and controlled by, a test controller.

Abstract: An integrated circuit, a method and a system for designing and a method fabricating the integrated circuit. The method including: (a) generating a photomask level design of an integrated circuit design of the integrated circuit, the photomask level design comprising a multiplicity of integrated circuit element shapes; (b) designating regions of the photomask level design between adjacent integrated circuit element shapes, the designated regions large enough to require placement of fill shapes between the adjacent integrated circuit elements based on fill shape rules, the fill shapes not required for the operation of the integrated circuit; and (c) placing one or more monitor structure shapes of a monitor structure in at least one of the designated regions, the monitor structure not required for the operation of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for designing scan chains in an integrated circuit chip with specific parameter sensitivities to identify fabrication process defects causing test fails and chip yield loss. The composition of scan paths in the integrated circuit chip is biased to allow them to also function as on-product process monitors. The method adds grouping constraints that bias scan chains to have common latch cell usage where possible, and also biases cell routing to constrain scan chain routing to given restricted metal layers for interconnects. The method assembles a list of latch design parameters which are sensitive to process variation or integrity, and formulates a plan for scan chain design which determines the number and the length of scan chains. A model is formulated of scan chain design based upon current state of yield and process integrity, wherein certain latch designs having dominant sensitivities are chosen for specific ones of the scan chains on the chip.

Abstract: The invention provides a circuit that can observe data within shift registers without altering the data. The circuit includes selectors connected to the inputs and outputs of the shift registers. The selectors selectively connect the input with the output of a selected shift register to form a wiring loop for the selected shift register. A control device connected to the wiring loop uses the wiring loop to cause the data to be continually transferred from the output of the selected shift register to the input of the selected shift register and back through the selected shift register in a circular manner. The control device includes a counter used for determining the length of a selected shift register and a set of registers to store, for future use when rotating data in the shift registers, the length of each shift register. The control device also includes a data output accessible from outside the circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shielded clock tree that has one or more clock signal buffers and clock signal splitters, with clock signal wiring connecting the clock signal buffers to the clock signal splitters. Shielding is adjacent the clock signal wiring, where ground wiring connects the shielding to ground. The shielding comprises shield wires positioned adjacent and parallel to the clock signal wiring. The invention provides switches in the ground wiring, and these switches are connected to, and controlled by, a test controller.

Abstract: A method for defect diagnosis of semiconductor chip. The method comprises the steps of (a) identifying M design structures and N physical characteristics of the circuit design, wherein M and N are positive integers, wherein each design structure of the M design structures is testable as to pass or fail, and wherein each physical characteristic of the N physical characteristics is present in at least one design structure of the M design structures; (b) for each design structure of the M design structures of the circuit design, determining a fail rate and determining whether the fail rate is high or low; and (c) if every design structure of the M design structures in which a physical characteristic of the N physical characteristics is present has a high fail rate, then flagging the physical characteristic as being likely to contain at least a defect.

Abstract: A method for implementing defect inspection of an integrated circuit includes configuring a power bus grid structure on a first metal interconnect level, the power bus grid structure including a first plurality of wire pairs. The first plurality of wire pairs is arranged in a manner such that a first wire in each of the first plurality of wire pairs is electrically coupled to conductive structures beneath the first metal interconnect level, and a second wire in each of the first plurality of wire pairs is initially electrically isolated from the conductive structures beneath the first metal interconnect level. The first wire in each of the first plurality of wire pairs is biased to a known voltage, and a charge contrast inspection is performed between the first wire and the second wire of each of the first plurality of wire pairs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shielded clock tree that has one or more clock signal buffers and clock signal splitters, with clock signal wiring connecting the clock signal buffers to the clock signal splitters. Shielding is adjacent the clock signal wiring, where ground wiring connects the shielding to ground. The shielding comprises shield wires positioned adjacent and parallel to the clock signal wiring. The invention provides switches in the ground wiring, and these switches are connected to, and controlled by, a test controller.

Abstract: A circuit and a method for monitoring defects in an integrated circuit chip. The circuit including a defect monitor portion and a sense element portion, the defect monitor portion either coupled to inputs of sense elements arranged in a chain or coupled between sense elements and forming portions of the chain.