Locating a field of view in which selected IC conductors are unobscured
First Claim
1. In a system comprising means for supporting an IC device having multiple physical layers and multiple internal nets, and controllable positioning means for positioning a field of view relative to the device, a method of positioning the field of view relative to the device such that multiple, selected nets of the device are-within the field of view, comprising the steps of:
- a. preparing a processed data set which (1) describes each physical layer of the device as a plurality of reduced polygons, each reduced polygon having dimensions at least as great as a predetermined minimum feature dimension, and (2) associates each of the reduced polygons with a physical layer of the device and with at least one net of the device;
b. for each selected net, preparing a transformed data set which describes a plurality of dilated polygons associated with the selected net, each dilated polygon defining the periphery of a region encompassed by the field of view when a point within the field of view is traced around the periphery of a reduced polygon;
c. mapping a bit plane for each selected net, each mapped bit plane defining the two-dimensional extent of dilated polygons associated with the selected net;
d. identifying any two-dimensional overlap regions over which a plurality of the dilated polygons defined by the bit planes overlap one another; and
e. if at least one said overlap region is identified, controlling said controllable positioning means to position the field of view relative to said device at a location which corresponds to at least one said overlap region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for positioning the field of view in a system for IC probing or repair, where the system comprises means for supporting an IC device having multiple physical layers and multiple internal nets, and controllable positioning means for positioning the field of view relative to the device. A data set is prepared which describes each physical layer of the device as a plurality of reduced polygons. Each of the reduced polygons is associated with a physical layer of the device and with at least one net of the device. For each of a plurality of selected nets, polygons associated with the net are dilated to define the periphery of a region encompassed by the field of view when a point within the field of view is traced around the periphery of a reduced polygon. A bit plane of the dilated polygons is mapped for each net, and regions of overlap the mapped bit planes are identified. The positioning means is controlled to position the field of view relative to the device at a location which corresponds to at least one overlap region.
57 Citations
39 Claims
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1. In a system comprising means for supporting an IC device having multiple physical layers and multiple internal nets, and controllable positioning means for positioning a field of view relative to the device, a method of positioning the field of view relative to the device such that multiple, selected nets of the device are-within the field of view, comprising the steps of:
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a. preparing a processed data set which (1) describes each physical layer of the device as a plurality of reduced polygons, each reduced polygon having dimensions at least as great as a predetermined minimum feature dimension, and (2) associates each of the reduced polygons with a physical layer of the device and with at least one net of the device; b. for each selected net, preparing a transformed data set which describes a plurality of dilated polygons associated with the selected net, each dilated polygon defining the periphery of a region encompassed by the field of view when a point within the field of view is traced around the periphery of a reduced polygon; c. mapping a bit plane for each selected net, each mapped bit plane defining the two-dimensional extent of dilated polygons associated with the selected net; d. identifying any two-dimensional overlap regions over which a plurality of the dilated polygons defined by the bit planes overlap one another; and e. if at least one said overlap region is identified, controlling said controllable positioning means to position the field of view relative to said device at a location which corresponds to at least one said overlap region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus, comprising:
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a. means for supporting an IC device having multiple physical layers and multiple internal nets; b. means defining a field of view; c. controllable positioning means for positioning the field of view relative to the device; and d. means for controlling said controllable positioning means to position the field of view relative to the device such that selected nets of the device are within the field of view, comprising; i. means for preparing a processed data set which (1) describes each physical layer of the device as a plurality of reduced polygons, each reduced polygon having dimensions at least as great as a predetermined minimum feature dimension, and (2) associates each of the reduced polygons with a physical layer of the device and with at least one net of the device; ii. means for preparing a transformed data set which describes a plurality of dilated polygons associated with each selected net, each dilated polygon defining the periphery of a region lying within the field of view when a point within the field of view is traced around the periphery of a reduced polygon; iii. means for mapping a bit plane for each selected net, each mapped bit plane defining the two-dimensional extent of dilated polygons associated with the net; iv. means for identifying at least one two-dimensional overlap region over which a plurality of the dilated polygons defined by the bit planes overlap one another; and v. means for controlling said controllable positioning means to position the field of view relative to said device at a location which corresponds to at least one said overlap region. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification