Abstract: An anti-tamper module is provided for protecting the contents and functionality of an integrated circuit incorporated in the module. The anti-tamper module is arranged in a stacked configuration having multiple layers. A connection layer is provided for connecting the module to an external system. A configurable logic device is provided for routing connections between the integrated circuit and the connection layer. Specifically, the configurable logic device is programmable to create logical circuits connecting at least one of the input/output connectors of the integrated circuit to at least one of the input/output connectors of the connection layer. Configuration information for programming the reconfigurable logic device is stored in a memory within the module.

Abstract: A field programmable gate array, an access lead network coupled to the FPGA, and a plurality of memories electrically coupled to the access lead network. The FPGA, access lead network, and plurality of memories are arranged and configured to operate with a variable word width, namely with a word width between 1 and a maximum number of bits. The absolute maximum word width may be as large as m*N where m is the number of word width bits per memory chip and N is the number of memory chips.

Abstract: A field programmable gate array, an access lead network coupled to the FPGA, and a plurality of memories electrically coupled to the access lead network. The FPGA, access lead network, and plurality of memories are arranged and configured to operate with a variable word width, namely with a word width between 1 and a maximum number of bits. The absolute maximum word width may be as large as m*N where m is the number of word width bits per memory chip and N is the number of memory chips.

Abstract: A field programmable gate array, an access lead network coupled to the FPGA, and a plurality of memories electrically coupled to the access lead network. The FPGA, access lead network, and plurality of memories are arranged and configured to operate with a variable word width, namely with a word width between 1 and a maximum number of bits. The absolute maximum word width may be as large as m.times.N where m is the number of word width bits per memory chip and N is the number of memory chips.

Abstract: A compact multi-stage switching network (100), and a router (510) incorporating such multi-stage switching network, adapted for simultaneously routing a plurality of data packets from a first plurality of input ports (110) to selected ones of a second plurality of output ports (190) comprising: a first stack (140) of IC switching layers (113) that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer containing at least one switching element circuit (142); a second stack (160) of IC switching layers (113) that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer (113) containing at least one switching element circuit (162); and interconnecting circuitry (150) that connects the first stack (140) of IC layers to the second stack (160) of IC layers to form the compact multi-stage switching network. The stacks (140, 160) are preferably mated to one another in a transverse fashion in order to achieve a natural full-mesh connection.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing electrical connections to electronic elements within a multilayer module. The method includes providing first and second active layers having first and second edges, respectively. Each active layer includes a flexible, polymer substrate and at least one electronic element formed within the substrate. Electrically-conductive traces provide electrical connections from the first and second edges to the electronic elements. An adhesive is applied to at least one of a top surface of the first active layer and a bottom surface of the second active layer and the top surface of the first active layer is adhered to the bottom surface of the second active layer. The first edge and the second edge are aligned with each other thereby forming a side of the multilayer module. Electrically-conductive lines are applied along the side of the multilayer module to provide electrical connections to the traces.

Abstract: A field programmable gate array, an access lead network coupled to the FPGA, and a plurality of memories electrically coupled to the access lead network. The FPGA, access lead network, and plurality of memories are arranged and configured to operate with a variable word width, namely with a word width between 1 and a maximum number of bits. The absolute maximum word width may be as large as mXN where m is the number of word width bits per memory chip and N is the number of memory chips.

Abstract: A compact multi-stage switching network (100), and a router (510) incorporating such multi-stage switching network, adapted for simultaneously routing a plurality of data packets from a first plurality of input ports (110) to selected ones of a second plurality of output ports (190) comprising: a first stack (140) of IC switching layers (113) that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer containing at least one switching element circuit (142); a second stack (160) of IC switching layers (113) that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer (113) containing at least one switching element circuit (162); and interconnecting circuitry (150) that connects the first stack (140) of IC layers to the second stack (160) of IC layers to form the compact multi-stage switching network. The stacks (140, 160) are preferably mated to one another in a transverse fashion in order to achieve a natural full-mesh connection.

Abstract: A stackable layer and stacked multilayer module are disclosed. Individual integrated circuit die are tested and processed at the wafer level to create vertical area interconnect vias for the routing of electrical signals from the active surface of the die to the inactive surface. Vias are formed at predefined locations on each die on the wafer. The wafer is passivated and the vias are filled with a conductive material. The bond pads on the die are exposed and a metalization reroute from the user-selected bond pads and vias is applied. The inactive surface of the wafer may be back thinned if desired. The wafer is then segmented to form thin, stackable layers that can be stacked and vertically electrically interconnected using the conductive vias, forming high-density electronic modules which may, in turn, be further stacked and interconnected to form larger more complex stacks.

Abstract: A multilayer module includes a first active layer with a first edge and second active layer with a second edge. Each active layer includes a flexible, polymer substrate, at least one electronic element, and a plurality of electrically-conductive traces which provide electrical connection from the respective edge to the electronic element of the active layer. The second active layer is adhered to the first active layer so that the first edge and second edge are aligned with each other thereby forming a side of the multilayer module. The multilayer module further includes a plurality of electrically-conductive lines along the side of the multilayer module, the lines providing electrical connection to the traces.

Abstract: Each multilayer module of a plurality of multilayer modules has a plurality of layers wherein each layer has a substrate therein. The plurality of multilayer modules includes a first multilayer module including a first layer and a second multilayer module including a second layer each having a top side and bottom side. The first layer and second layer each includes a substrate, at least one electronic element, and a plurality of electrically-conductive traces. The plurality of multilayer modules further includes a heat-separating layer disposed between the top side of the first layer and the bottom side of the second layer. The first multilayer module is adhered to the second multilayer module and the first multilayer module can be detached from the second multilayer module by applying heat to the heat-separating layer.

Abstract: A multilayer module includes a first active layer with a first edge and second active layer with a second edge. Each active layer includes a flexible, polymer substrate, at least one electronic element, and a plurality of electrically-conductive traces which provide electrical connection from the respective edge to the electronic element of the active layer. The second active layer is adhered to the first active layer so that the first edge and second edge are aligned with each other thereby forming a side of the multilayer module. The multilayer module further includes a plurality of electrically-conductive lines along the side of the multilayer module, the lines providing electrical connection to the traces.

Abstract: A field programmable gate array, an access lead network coupled to the FPGA, and a plurality of memories electrically coupled to the access lead network. The FPGA, access lead network, and plurality of memories are arranged and configured to operate with a variable word width, namely with a word width between 1 and a maximum number of bits. The absolute maximum word width may be as large as m×N where m is the number of word width bits per memory chip and N is the number of memory chips.

Abstract: A stack of multilayer modules has a segmentation layer disposed between neighboring multilayer modules. The segmentation layer facilitates the separation of neighboring multilayer modules. The stack of multilayer modules includes a first multilayer module and a second multilayer module. Each multilayer module includes a plurality of active layers each comprising a substrate, at least one electronic element, and a plurality of electrically-conductive traces. The second multilayer module is disposed to be neighboring the first multilayer module with at least one segmentation layer between the first and second multilayer modules. The segmentation layer includes a metal layer and at least one thermoplastic adhesive layer. When heat is applied, the metal layer conducts heat to the thermoplastic adhesive layer.

Abstract: Each multilayer module of a plurality of multilayer modules has a plurality of layers wherein each layer has a substrate therein. The plurality of multilayer modules includes a first multilayer module including a first layer and a second multilayer module including a second layer each having a top side and bottom side. The first layer and second layer each includes a substrate, at least one electronic element, and a plurality of electrically-conductive traces. The plurality of multilayer modules further includes a heat-separating layer disposed between the top side of the first layer and the bottom side of the second layer. The first multilayer module is adhered to the second multilayer module and the first multilayer module can be detached from the second multilayer module by applying heat to the heat-separating layer.

Abstract: A multilayer module includes a first active layer with a first edge and second active layer with a second edge. Each active layer includes a flexible, polymer substrate, at least one electronic element, and a plurality of electrically-conductive traces which provide electrical connection from the respective edge to the electronic element of the active layer. The second active layer is adhered to the first active layer so that the first edge and second edge are aligned with each other thereby forming a side of the multilayer module. The multilayer module further includes a plurality of electrically-conductive lines along the side of the multilayer module, the lines providing electrical connection to the traces.

Abstract: A method fabricates multilayer modules with flexible substrates. The method includes stacking a plurality of active layer sheets and a plurality of segmentation layer sheets with adhesive between the layer sheets, thereby assembling an arrayed module pre-form. Each segmentation layer sheet includes a thermally-conductive material. The method further includes stacking a plurality of arrayed module pre-forms with at least one segmentation layer sheet between each pair of arrayed module pre-forms and with a thermoplastic adhesive material applied to the segmentation layer sheets. The method further includes laminating the active layer sheets and the segmentation layer sheets together, cutting the stack of arrayed multilayer modules, forming electrically-conductive lines along at least one side of the stack of multilayer modules, and segmenting the stack of multilayer modules into individual multilayer modules.

Abstract: A stack of multilayer modules has a segmentation layer disposed between neighboring multilayer modules. The segmentation layer facilitates the separation of neighboring multilayer modules. The stack of multilayer modules includes a first multilayer module and a second multilayer module. Each multilayer module includes a plurality of active layers each comprising a substrate, at least one electronic element, and a plurality of electrically-conductive traces. The second multilayer module is disposed to be neighboring the first multilayer module with at least one segmentation layer between the first and second multilayer modules. The segmentation layer includes a metal layer and at least one thermoplastic adhesive layer. When heat is applied, the metal layer conducts heat to the thermoplastic adhesive layer.

Abstract: A sensor system (30) has a sensor module (10) and a receiver module (45). The sensor module (10) functions as a wireless data collection device and has a flexible thin sheet of silicon (60, 65, 70) comprising circuitry (71, 72, 73), a flexible power source (105), and a flexible support substrate (55). The silicon, power source, and flexible support substrate are integrated as layers of the sensor module (10). The layers are placed together in the form of an adhesive bandage (10). A plurality of electrodes (80) are connected to the sensor module (10) and protrude from the flexible substrate (55) for contacting the skin of a subject body (20). The receiver module (45) includes one of an RF receiver with a wireless port for continuously receiving data (40), or a physical I/O port (87) to which the sensor module (10) can be physically connected for downloading stored data from the sensor module (10).

Abstract: A compact multi-stage switching network (100), and a router (510) incorporating such multi-stage switching network, adapted for simultaneously routing a plurality of data packets from a first plurality of input ports (110) to selected ones of a second plurality of output ports (190) comprising: a first stack (140) of IC switching layers (113) that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer containing at least one switching element circuit (142); a second stack (160) of IC switching layers (113) that are stacked in physical contact with one another, each IC switching layer (113) containing at least one switching element circuit (162); and interconnecting circuitry (150) that connects the first stack (140) of IC layers to the second stack (160) of IC layers to form the compact multi-stage switching network. The stacks (140, 160) are preferably mated to one another in a transverse fashion in order to achieve a natural full-mesh connection.