SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE

• US 20090195359A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: YAMAZAKI, Shunpei, KOYAMA, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 8,432,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/20 using active fault-masking, e.g. by switching out faulty elements or by switching in spare elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

An object is to increase the reliability of a semiconductor device which is capable of wireless communication. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of functional circuits as redundant circuits, and each of the plurality of functional circuits includes an antenna and a semiconductor integrated circuit. The plurality of functional circuits is covered with one sealing layer in which a fibrous body is impregnated with resin. Further, the semiconductor integrated circuit is provided with a transmission/reception circuit electrically connected to the antenna, a power supply circuit electrically connected to the transmission/reception circuit, and a logic circuit electrically connected to the transmission/reception circuit and the power supply circuit.

Claims

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

first and second functional circuits, each of the first and second functional circuits comprising;

an antenna; and

a semiconductor integrated circuit storing identification information and being electrically connected to the antenna; and

a sealing layer surrounding the first and second functional circuits,

wherein the identification information in the first functional circuit is different from the identification information in the second functional circuit.

2. A semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor integrated circuit comprises a transmission/reception circuit electrically connected to the antenna, a power supply circuit electrically connected to the transmission/reception circuit, and a logic circuit storing the identification information and being electrically connected to the transmission/reception circuit and the power supply circuit.

3. A semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor integrated circuit comprises a transmission/reception circuit electrically connected to the antenna, a power supply circuit electrically connected to the transmission/reception circuit, a logic circuit storing the identification information and being electrically connected to the transmission/reception circuit and the power supply circuit, a power supply control circuit electrically connected to the power supply circuit and the logic circuit, and a judging circuit electrically connected to the logic circuit and the power supply control circuit.

4. A semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second functional circuits has the same function.

5. A semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second functional circuits has an anti-collision function.

6. A semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is generated by using a difference in the positions of the first and second functional circuits, a difference in the amount of time for transmission or reception of signals of the first and second functional circuits, or a difference in the frequency of response signals of the first and second functional circuits.

7. A semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second functional circuits is judged whether each of the first and second functional circuits is normal or not by a radio wave transmitted from outside and is controlled whether to be operated or not by the radio wave transmitted from the outside.

8. A semiconductor device comprising:

first and second functional circuits, each of the first and second functional circuits comprising;

a first antenna; and

a semiconductor integrated circuit storing identification information and being electrically connected to the first antenna;

a sealing layer surrounding the first and second functional circuits; and

a second antenna capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves by electromagnetic coupling with the first antenna of the first functional circuit and by electromagnetic coupling with the first antenna of the second functional circuit,

wherein the identification information in the first functional circuit is different from the identification information in the second functional circuit.

9. A semiconductor device according to claim 8, wherein the semiconductor integrated circuit comprises a transmission/reception circuit electrically connected to the first antenna, a power supply circuit electrically connected to the transmission/reception circuit, and a logic circuit storing the identification information and being electrically connected to the transmission/reception circuit and the power supply circuit.

10. A semiconductor device according to claim 8, wherein the semiconductor integrated circuit comprises a transmission/reception circuit electrically connected to the first antenna, a power supply circuit electrically connected to the transmission/reception circuit, a logic circuit storing the identification information and being electrically connected to the transmission/reception circuit and the power supply circuit, a power supply control circuit electrically connected to the power supply circuit and the logic circuit, and a judging circuit electrically connected to the logic circuit and the power supply control circuit.

11. A semiconductor device according to claim 8, wherein each of the first and second functional circuits has the same function.

12. A semiconductor device according to claim 8, wherein each of the first and second functional circuits has an anti-collision function.

13. A semiconductor device according to claim 8, wherein the identification information is generated by using a difference in the positions of the first and second functional circuits, a difference in the amount of time for transmission or reception of signals of the first and second functional circuits, or a difference in the frequency of response signals of the first and second functional circuits.

14. A semiconductor device according to claim 8, wherein each of the first and second functional circuits is judged whether each of the first and second functional circuits is normal or not by a radio wave transmitted from outside and is controlled whether to be operated or not by the radio wave transmitted from the outside.