Functionally symmetric integrated circuit die

• US 6,291,896 B1
• Filed: 02/16/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RUIZHANG TECHNOLOGY LIMITED COMPANY
• Original Assignee: Alien Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, John Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Clark, Sheila V.
• Application Number:
  US09/251,220
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 257/786, 257/693, 257/698, 257/701, 257/685, 257/686, 361/761, 361/764, 438/107, 438/109, 438/108, 438/114, 438/110
• US Class Current: 257/786
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0804 Sub-multiplexed active matrix panel, i.e. wherein one active driving circuit is used at pixel level for multiple image producing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0809 Several active elements per pixel in active matrix panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0814 used for selection purposes, e.g. logical AND for partial update
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/95085 being a liquid, e.g. for fluidic self-assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/95122 by applying vibration
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/50 for integrated circuit devices, e.g. power bus, number of leadsH01L23/482 - H01L23/498 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/5386 Geometry or layout of the interconnection structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 24/95 at chip-level, i.e. with connecting carried out on a plurality of singulated devices, i.e. on diced chips
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0655 the devices being arranged next to each other
• 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 2924/01015 Phosphorus [P]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01018 Argon [Ar]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01027 Cobalt [Co]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01033 Arsenic [As]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01058 Cerium [Ce]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12043 Photo diode
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/1305 Bipolar Junction Transistor [BJT]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/14 Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19041 being a capacitor

Abstract

A functionally symmetric integrated circuit die to be mounted into a mutually symmetric receptor site. In one embodiment, a functionally symmetric integrated circuit die includes a substrate and a plurality of interface pads arranged thereon. The plurality of interface pads couple integrated circuitry disposed in the substrate to a plurality of interface pads of a mutually symmetric receptor site of an electronic device. The integrated circuit die can be mounted into the receptor site in any of a plurality of rotational orientations relative to the receptor site. The plurality of interface pads on the integrated circuit die and the receptor site are arranged such that an electronic device functions with the integrated circuit die in mounted in the receptor site in any one of the plurality of orientations.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit device, comprising:

a substrate; and

a plurality of functionally symmetric interface pads coupling integrated circuitry of an integrated circuit device to a receptor site of an electronic device, the receptor site having a three dimensional physical shape having a depth, the integrated circuit die having the three dimensional physical shape to be received within the receptor site, the plurality of interface pads arranged in the substrate such that the electronic device operates with the integrated circuit die mounted to the receptor site in any one of a plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site.

2. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit die has the three dimensional physical shape allowing the integrated circuit die to be mounted to the receptor site in said any one of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site.

3. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein each one of the plurality of interface pads provides a predetermined function for the electronic device independent of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site in which the integrated circuit die is mounted to the receptor site.

4. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises silicon.

5. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit die has M-fold symmetry and an internal layout of the integrated circuit die has N-fold symmetry, wherein M does not equal N.

6. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein each one of the plurality of interface pads comprise a via coupled to an integrated circuit disposed within the integrated circuit die.

7. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit comprises a plurality of integrated circuit devices coupled between each one of the plurality of interface pads.

8. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein a first signal of the electronic device coupled to a first one of the plurality of interface pads is generated at a second one of the plurality of interface pads in response to a second signal of the electronic device coupled to a third one of the interface pads.

9. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein a first signal of the electronic device coupled to a first one of the plurality of interface pads is generated at a second one of the plurality of interface pads in response to second and third signals of the electronic device coupled to third and fourth ones of the plurality of interface pads, respectively.

10. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein the substrate is selectively coupled to a first one of the plurality of interface pads when the first one of the plurality of interface pads is at or below a first potential so as to maintain the substrate at or below the first potential.

11. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein the substrate is selectively coupled to a first one of the plurality of interface pads in response to a signal coupled to a second one of the plurality of interface pads so as to maintain the substrate at or below a first potential.

27. The integrated circuit device of claim 1 wherein the three dimensional physical shape includes a tapered angle.

28. The integrated circuit device of claim 27 wherein the integrated circuit die has a trapezoidal cross section.

12. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

providing an integrated circuit die having a plurality of interface pads physically arranged in a substrate of the integrated circuit die in functionally symmetric pattern to couple integrated circuitry of the integrated circuit die to a receptor site of the electronic device, the receptor site having a three dimensional physical shape having a depth, the integrated circuit die having the three dimensional physical shape to be received within the receptor site; and

mounting the integrated circuit die to the receptor site in any one of a plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site.

13. The method described in claim 12 further comprising shaping the integrated circuit die and the receptor site to the three dimensional physical shape to allow the integrated circuit die to be mounted to the receptor site in said any one of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site.

14. The method described in claim 12 further comprising laying out an integrated circuit disposed within the integrated circuit die with different symmetry relative to the integrated circuit die.

15. The method described in claim 12 further comprising coupling an integrated circuit disposed within the integrated circuit die to the electronic device through a plurality of vias, the plurality of vias included in the plurality of interface pads.

16. The method described in claim 12 further comprising driving a first signal onto a first node of the electronic device in response to a second signal at a second node of the electronic device and a third signal at a third node of the electronic device, the first, second and third nodes of the electronic device coupled to first, second and third ones of the plurality of interface pads of the integrated circuit die, respectively, when the integrated circuit die is mounted to the receptor site in said any one of the plurality of orientations.

17. The method described in claim 16 wherein the first signal is the second signal.

18. The method described in claim 12 further comprising selectively coupling the substrate of the integrated circuit die to one of the plurality interface pads when the interface pad is at the first potential so as to maintain the substrate of the integrated circuit die at the first potential.

19. The method described in claim 12 further comprising selectively coupling the substrate of the integrated circuit die to one of the plurality of interface pads when the one of the plurality of interface pad is at a first potential so as to maintain the substrate of the integrated circuit die at the first potential.

20. The method described in claim 12 further comprising selectively coupling the substrate of the integrated circuit die to one of the plurality of interface pads when another one of the plurality of interface pads is at a second potential so as to maintain the substrate of the integrated circuit die at the first potential.

21. An electronic device, comprising:

a receptor site in a substrate of the electronic device, the receptor site including a plurality of receptor interface pads, the receptor site having a three dimensional physical shape having a depth;

an integrated circuit die having the three dimensional physical shape to be received within the receptor site, the integrated circuit die having a plurality of die interface pads to couple integrated circuitry of the integrated circuit die to the receptor site, the plurality of die interface pads and receptor interface pads arranged in a mutually functionally symmetric pattern such that the electronic device operates with the plurality of die interface pads engaged with the plurality of receptor interface pads in any one of a plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site.

22. The electronic device of claim 21 wherein the receptor site and the integrated circuit die have mutually compatible three dimensional physical shapes to allow the integrated circuit die to be mounted to the receptor site in said any one of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site.

23. The electronic device of claim 21 wherein each one of the plurality of die interface pads provides a predetermined function for the electronic device independent of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site in which the plurality of die interface pads are engaged with the plurality of receptor interface pads.

24. The electronic device of claim 21 wherein the integrated circuit die has M-fold symmetry and an internal layout of the integrated circuit die has N-fold symmetry, wherein M does not equal N.

25. The electronic device of claim 21 wherein the integrated circuit die includes a switch circuit to switch a first signal in the electronic device in response to a second signal of the electronic device.

26. The electronic device of claim 21 wherein the integrated circuit die includes a memory circuit to sustain a first signal in the electronic device in response to a second signal.

29. An integrated circuit die, comprising:

a substrate; and

a plurality of functionally symmetric interface pads coupling integrated circuitry of an integrated circuit die to a receptor site of an electronic device, the plurality of interface pads having a rotationally symmetric arrangement in the substrate such that the electronic device operates with the integrated circuit die mounted to the receptor site in any one of a plurality of N rotational orientations relative to the receptor site, wherein an internal layout of the integrated circuit die is not functionally symmetric over the plurality of N rotational orientations.

30. The integrated circuit device of claim 29 wherein the integrated circuit die has a physical shape that allows the integrated circuit die to be mounted to the receptor site in said any one of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site.

31. The integrated circuit device of claim 29 wherein each one of the plurality of interface pads provides a predetermined function for the electronic device independent of the plurality of N rotational orientations relative to the receptor site in which the integrated circuit die is mounted to the receptor site.

32. The integrated circuit device of claim 29 wherein the substrate comprises silicon.

33. The integrated circuit device of claim 29 wherein the integrated circuit die has M-fold symmetry and the internal layout of the integrated circuit die has N-fold symmetry, wherein M does not equal N.

34. The integrated circuit device of claim 29 wherein each one of the plurality of interface pads comprise a via coupled to an integrated circuit disposed within the integrated circuit die.

35. The integrated circuit device of claim 29 wherein the integrated circuit comprises a plurality of integrated circuit dies coupled between each one of the plurality of interface pads.

36. The integrated circuit device of claim 29 wherein a first signal of the electronic device coupled to a first one of the plurality of interface pads is generated at a second one of the plurality of interface pads in response to a second signal of the electronic device coupled to a third one of the interface pads.

37. The integrated circuit device of claim 29 wherein a first signal of the electronic device coupled to a first one of the plurality of interface pads is generated at a second one of the plurality of interface pads in response to second and third signals of the electronic device coupled to third and fourth ones of the plurality of interface pads, respectively.

38. The integrated circuit device of claim 29 wherein the substrate is selectively coupled to a first one of the plurality of interface pads when the first one of the plurality of interface pads is at or below a first potential so as to maintain the substrate at or below the first potential.

39. The integrated circuit device of claim 29 wherein the substrate is selectively coupled to a first one of the plurality of interface pads in response to a signal coupled to a second one of the plurality of interface pads so as to maintain the substrate at or below a first potential.

40. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

providing an integrated circuit die having a plurality of interface pads physically arranged in a substrate of the integrated circuit die in functionally symmetric pattern over a plurality of N rotational orientations to couple integrated circuitry of the integrated circuit die to a receptor site of the electronic device, wherein an internal layout of the integrated circuit die is not functionally symmetric over the plurality of N rotational orientations; and

mounting the integrated circuit die to the receptor site in any one of a plurality of N rotational orientations relative to the receptor site.

41. The method described in claim 40 further comprising shaping the integrated circuit die and the receptor site to allow the integrated circuit die to be mounted to the receptor site in said any one of the plurality of N rotational orientations relative to the receptor site.

42. The method described in claim 40 further comprising laying out an integrated circuit disposed within the integrated circuit die without functional symmetry over the plurality of N rotational orientations.

43. The method described in claim 40 further comprising coupling an integrated circuit disposed within the integrated circuit die to the electronic device through a plurality of vias, the plurality of vias included in the plurality of interface pads.

44. The method described in claim 40 further comprising driving a first signal onto a first node of the electronic device in response to a second signal at a second node of the electronic device and a third signal at a third node of the electronic device, the first, second and third nodes of the electronic device coupled to first, second and third ones of the plurality of interface pads of the integrated circuit die, respectively, when the integrated circuit die is mounted to the receptor site in said any one of the plurality of N rotational orientations.

45. The method described in claim 44 wherein the first signal is the second signal.

46. The method described in claim 40 further comprising selectively coupling the substrate of the integrated circuit die to one of the plurality interface pads when the interface pad is at the first potential so as to maintain the substrate of the integrated circuit die at the first potential.

47. The method described in claim 40 further comprising selectively coupling the substrate of the integrated circuit die to one of the plurality of interface pads when the one of the plurality of interface pads is at a first potential so as to maintain the substrate of the integrated circuit die at the first potential.

48. The method described in claim 40 further comprising selectively coupling the substrate of the integrated circuit die to one of the plurality of interface pads when another one of the plurality of interface pads is at a second potential so as to maintain the substrate of the integrated circuit die at the first potential.

49. An electronic device, comprising:

a receptor site in a substrate of the electronic device, the receptor site including a plurality of receptor interface pads;

an integrated circuit die having a plurality of die interface pads to couple integrated circuitry of the integrated circuit die to the receptor site, the plurality of die interface pads and receptor interface pads arranged in a mutually functionally symmetric pattern over a plurality of N rotational orientations such that the electronic device operates with the plurality of die interface pads engaged with the plurality of receptor interface pads in any one of the plurality of N rotational orientations, wherein an internal layout of the integrated circuit die is not functionally symmetric over the plurality of N rotational orientations.

50. The electronic device of claim 49 wherein the receptor site and the integrated circuit die have mutually compatible physical shapes to allow the integrated circuit die to be mounted to the receptor site in said any one of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site.

51. The electronic device of claim 49 wherein each one of the plurality of die interface pads provides a predetermined function for the electronic device independent of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site in which the plurality of die interface pads are engaged with the plurality of receptor interface pads.

52. The electronic device of claim 49 wherein the integrated circuit die has M-fold symmetry and an internal layout of the integrated circuit die has N-fold symmetry, wherein M does not equal N.

53. The electronic device of claim 49 wherein the integrated circuit die includes a switch circuit to switch a first signal in the electronic device in response to a second signal of the electronic device.

54. The electronic device of claim 49 wherein the integrated circuit die includes a memory circuit to sustain a first signal in the electronic device in response to a second signal.

55. An integrated circuit device, comprising:

a substrate; and

a plurality of functionally symmetric interface pads coupling integrated circuitry of an integrated circuit die to a receptor site of an electronic device, the plurality of interface pads arranged in the substrate such that the electronic device operates with the integrated circuit die self-aligned and mounted to the receptor site in any one of a plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site.

56. The integrated circuit die of claim 55 wherein the integrated circuit die has a physical shape that allows the integrated circuit die to be mounted to the receptor she in said any one of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site.

57. The integrated circuit die of claim 55 wherein each one of the plurality of interface pads provides a predetermined function for the electronic device independent of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site in which the integrated circuit die is mounted to the receptor site.

58. The integrated circuit die of claim 55 wherein the substrate comprises silicon.

59. The integrated circuit die of claim 55 wherein the integrated circuit die has M-fold symmetry and an internal layout of the integrated circuit die has N-fold symmetry, wherein M does not equal N.

60. The integrated circuit die of claim 55 wherein each one of the plurality of interface pads comprise a via coupled to an integrated circuit disposed within the integrated circuit die.

61. The integrated circuit die of claim 55 wherein the integrated circuit comprises a plurality of integrated circuit dies coupled between each one of the plurality of interface pads.

62. The integrated circuit die of claim 55 wherein a first signal of the electronic device coupled to a first one of the plurality of interface pads is generated at a second one of the plurality of interface pads in response to a second signal of the electronic device coupled to a third one of the interface pads.

63. The integrated circuit die of claim 55 wherein a first signal of the electronic device coupled to a first one of the plurality of interface pads is generated at a second one of the plurality of interface pads in response to second and third signals of the electronic device coupled to third and fourth ones of the plurality of interface pads, respectively.

64. The integrated circuit die of claim 55 wherein the substrate is selectively coupled to a first one of the plurality of interface pads when the first one of the plurality of interface pads is at or below a first potential so as to maintain the substrate at or below the first potential.

65. The integrated circuit die of claim 55 wherein the substrate is selectively coupled to a first one of the plurality of interface pads in response to a signal coupled to a second one of the plurality of interface pads so as to maintain the substrate at or below a first potential.

69. The method described in claim 65 further comprising coupling an integrated circuit disposed within the integrated circuit die to the electronic device through a plurality of vias, the plurality of vias included in the plurality of interface pads.

66. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an integrated circuit die having a plurality of interface pads physically arranged in a substrate of the integrated circuit die in functionally symmetric pattern to couple integrated circuitry of the integrated circuit die to a receptor site of the electronic device;

self-aligning the integrated circuit die to the receptor site in any one of a plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site; and

mounting the integrated circuit die to the receptor site in said any one of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site.

67. The method described in claim 66 further comprising shaping the integrated circuit die and the receptor site to allow the integrated circuit die to be self-aligned and mounted to the receptor site in said any one of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site.

68. The method described in claim 66 further comprising laying out an integrated circuit disposed within the integrated circuit die with different symmetry relative to the integrated circuit die.

70. The method described in claim 66 further comprising driving a first signal onto a first node of the electronic device in response to a second signal at a second node of the electronic device and a third signal at a third node of the electronic device, the first, second and third nodes of the electronic device coupled to first, second and third ones of the plurality of interface pads of the integrated circuit die, respectively, when the integrated circuit die is mounted to the receptor site in said any one of the plurality of orientations.

71. The method described in claim 70 wherein the first signal is the second signal.

72. The method described in claim 66 further comprising selectively coupling the substrate of the integrated circuit die to one of the plurality interface pads when the interface pad is at the first potential so as to maintain the substrate of the integrated circuit die at the first potential.

73. The method described in claim 66 further comprising selectively coupling the substrate of the integrated circuit die to one of the plurality of interface pads when the one of the plurality of interface pads is at a first potential so as to maintain the substrate of the integrated circuit die at the first potential.

74. The method described in claim 66 including the additional step of selectively coupling the substrate of the integrated circuit die to one of the plurality of interface pads when another one of the plurality of interface pads is at a second potential so as to maintain the substrate of the integrated circuit die at the first potential.

75. An electronic device, comprising:

a receptor site in a substrate of the electronic device, the receptor site including a plurality of receptor interface pads;

an integrated circuit die having a plurality of die interface pads to couple integrated circuitry of the integrated circuit die to the receptor site, the plurality of die interface pads and receptor interface pads arranged in a mutually functionally symmetric pattern such that the electronic device operates with the plurality of die interface pads engaged with the plurality of receptor interface pads in any one of a plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site, the integrated circuit die self-aligned with the receptor site.

76. The electronic device of claim 75 wherein the receptor site and the integrated circuit die have mutually compatible physical shapes to allow the integrated circuit die to be self-aligned and mounted to the receptor site in said any one of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site.

77. The electronic device of claim 75 wherein each one of the plurality of die interface pads provides a predetermined function for the electronic device independent of the plurality of orientations relative to the receptor site in which the plurality of die interface pads are engaged with the plurality of receptor interface pads.

78. The electronic device of claim 75 wherein the integrated circuit die has M-fold symmetry and an internal layout of the integrated circuit die has N-fold symmetry, wherein M does not equal N.

79. The electronic device of claim 75 wherein the integrated circuit die includes a switch circuit to switch a first signal in the electronic device in response to a second signal of the electronic device.

80. The electronic device of claim 75 wherein the integrated circuit die includes a memory circuit to sustain a first signal in the electronic device in response to a second signal.