Circuitry, apparatus and method for embedding a test status outcome within a circuit being tested
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit, comprising:
- a first non-volatile storage device formed in a first address location reserved for receiving information as to an outcome of a first electrical test performed upon the integrated circuit; and
a second non-volatile storage device formed in a second address location reserved for receiving information as to an outcome of a second electrical test performed upon the integrated circuit, wherein whether the second electrical test outcome information is received depends on the first electrical test outcome information stored in the first storage device.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit, a programming mechanism and a method are provided for programming test information upon non-volatile storage devices of the integrated circuit. The test information includes a pass/fail outcome arising from one or more test operations to which the integrated circuit is exposed. In addition to or in lieu of the test outcomes, test results of one or more parametric tests at select test operations can be measured from and programmed back into the integrated circuit. Test limits against which the test results can be compared may also be programmed into the integrated circuit. The test outcomes of various test operations, test results of various test parameters and test limits of the same or dissimilar test parameters are stored in separate non-volatile storage locations attributed to the integrated circuit. Those storage locations and, particularly, the bits contained therein are read either before the integrated circuit is packaged, after it is packaged, or after the packaged integrated circuit is shipped to customer. Programming test information as to that particular integrated circuit provides traceability of test operations performed, quality control of integrated circuits shipped, failure analysis of integrated circuits manufactured and, in some instances, lessened overall test time.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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a first non-volatile storage device formed in a first address location reserved for receiving information as to an outcome of a first electrical test performed upon the integrated circuit; and
a second non-volatile storage device formed in a second address location reserved for receiving information as to an outcome of a second electrical test performed upon the integrated circuit, wherein whether the second electrical test outcome information is received depends on the first electrical test outcome information stored in the first storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for programming an integrated circuit, comprising:
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a programming mechanism adapted to address a first storage location within the integrated circuit reserved for receiving first information as to the outcome of a first electrical test, and further adapted to address a second storage location within the integrated circuit reserved for receiving second information as to the outcome of a second electrical test, wherein whether the second storage location is addressed is dependent on the first information; and
a read mechanism adapted to read the first information during the second electrical test. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for testing operation of an integrated circuit, comprising:
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programming first information into the integrated circuit identifying whether the integrated circuit passes a first testing operation;
reading the first information during a second testing operation subsequent to the first testing operation;
continuing the second testing operation based on the result of said reading the first information; and
if the second testing operation is continued, programming second information into the integrated circuit identifying whether the integrated circuit passes the second testing operation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification