Method and system for dynamic duration burn-in
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for dynamic duration burn-in of integrated circuits (IC'"'"'s), comprising:
- providing a computer system having a processing unit, input device and storage, wherein the storage includes a performance database for tracking burn-in test results of a plurality of ICs;
determining test criteria against which the burn-in test results will be compared;
stressing the plurality of ICs for a burn-in interval;
testing the plurality of ICs to determine an instantaneous failure rate from burn-in;
comparing the instantaneous failure rate to the test criteria;
repeating the stressing, testing and comparing until the instantaneous failure rate fulfills the test criteria and dynamically stopping the burn-in interval in response thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-implemented method and system for dynamic duration burn-in. A computer system is provided having a processing unit, input device and storage. The storage includes a performance database for tracking burn-in test results of a plurality of ICs. Test criteria is determined against which the burn-in test results will be compared. The plurality of ICs are stressed for a burn-in interval in a stress chamber and the plurality of ICs are tested to determine a failure rate from burn-in. The failure rate is compared to the test criteria and the steps of stressing, testing and comparing are repeated until the failure rate fulfills the test criteria.
54 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for dynamic duration burn-in of integrated circuits (IC'"'"'s), comprising:
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providing a computer system having a processing unit, input device and storage, wherein the storage includes a performance database for tracking burn-in test results of a plurality of ICs;
determining test criteria against which the burn-in test results will be compared;
stressing the plurality of ICs for a burn-in interval;
testing the plurality of ICs to determine an instantaneous failure rate from burn-in;
comparing the instantaneous failure rate to the test criteria;
repeating the stressing, testing and comparing until the instantaneous failure rate fulfills the test criteria and dynamically stopping the burn-in interval in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer program product, comprising:
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a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied thereon, the computer readable program code, when executed, implementing on the computer a method for dynamic duration burn-in, the method comprising;
determining test criteria against which the burn-in test results will be compared;
stressing the plurality of ICs for a burn-in interval;
testing the plurality of ICs to determine instantaneous failure rate from burn-in;
comparing the failure rate to the test criteria;
repeating the stressing, testing and comparing until the instantaneous failure rate fulfills the test criteria and prematurely terminating the burn-in interval in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A dynamic duration burn-in device, comprising:
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a computer system having a processing unit, input device and storage, wherein the storage further includes a performance database for tracking burn-in test results of a plurality of ICs and test criteria against which the burn-in test results will be compared;
a stress chamber connected to the computer system and operable for stressing the plurality of ICs for a burn-in interval;
a burn-in test hardware connected to the computer and operable for testing the plurality of ICs to determine a failure rate from burn-in; and
the computer system operable for comparing the failure rate to the test criteria, and for repeating the stressing, testing and comparing until the failure rate fulfills the test criteria. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A dynamic duration burn-in device, comprising:
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a controllable stress chamber;
a burn-in test hardware;
a computer system having a processing unit, input device and storage, and connected to the controllable stress chamber and the burn-in test hardware, the computer system programmed to execute the following;
providing a performance database for tracking burn-in test results of a plurality of ICs;
determining test criteria against which the burn-in test results will be compared;
stressing the plurality of ICs for a burn-in interval;
testing the plurality of ICs to determine instantaneous failure rate from burn-in;
comparing the instantaneous failure rate to the test criteria; and
repeating the stressing, testing and comparing until the failure rate fulfills the test criteria and stopping the burn-in before the end of the burn-in interval. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer-implemented method for dynamic duration burn-in of integrated circuit, comprising:
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defining a burn-in interval for the integrated circuits stressing the integrated circuits in a stress chamber;
periodically testing the integrated circuits to determine an instantaneous failure rate; and
stopping the stressing when the instantaneous failure rate is equal to approximately a random failure rate.
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30. A method for dynamic duration burn-in of integrated circuits, comprising:
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providing a computer system having a processing unit, input device and storage, providing a stress chamber;
placing a plurality of integrated circuits in the stress chamber;
simultaneously stressing and testing the integrated circuits to measure an instantaneous failure rate, and stopping the stressing and testing when the instantaneous failure rate at or below a predefined failure rate.
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31. A dynamic duration stress testing device, comprising:
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a computer system having a processing unit, input device and memory;
a performance database residing in the memory for tracking stress test results of a plurality of integrated circuits and test criteria against which the stress test results will be compared;
a stress chamber connected to the computer system and operable for stressing the plurality of integrated circuits for a dynamic stress time interval;
a test device connected to the computer and operable for periodically testing the plurality of integrated circuits to determine an instantaneous failure rate; and
the computer system operable for comparing the instantaneous failure rate to the test criteria, and for repeating the stressing, testing and comparing until the failure rate drops to a rate approximately equivalent to a random failure rate. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification