Wireless radio frequency technique design and method for testing of integrated circuits and wafers
First Claim
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1. A test circuit for testing an integrated circuit on a wafer, the test circuit formed on the wafer with the integrated circuit, the test circuit comprising:
- a) a variable ring oscillator circuit including;
i) a base ring oscillator circuit;
ii) a plurality of sub-circuits selectively coupled to the base ring oscillator circuit; and
,iii) a plurality of switching elements for selectively coupling at least one of the plurality of sub-circuits to the base ring oscillator circuit; and
,b) a control circuit to enable at least one of the plurality of switching elements to selectively couple at least one of the sub-circuits to the base ring oscillator circuit to produce different versions of the variable ring oscillator circuit,the test circuit conducts a separate test of the integrated circuit for at least one of the versions of the variable ring oscillator circuit.
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Abstract
The present invention is for an apparatus and method for the wireless testing of Integrated Circuits and wafers. The apparatus comprises a test unit external from the wafer and at least one test circuit which is fabricated on the wafer which contains the Integrated Circuit. The test unit transmits an RF signal to power the test circuit. The test circuit, comprising a variable ring oscillator, performs a series of parametric tests at the normal operating frequency of the Integrated Circuit and transmits the test results to the test unit for analysis.
93 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A test circuit for testing an integrated circuit on a wafer, the test circuit formed on the wafer with the integrated circuit, the test circuit comprising:
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a) a variable ring oscillator circuit including; i) a base ring oscillator circuit; ii) a plurality of sub-circuits selectively coupled to the base ring oscillator circuit; and
,iii) a plurality of switching elements for selectively coupling at least one of the plurality of sub-circuits to the base ring oscillator circuit; and
,b) a control circuit to enable at least one of the plurality of switching elements to selectively couple at least one of the sub-circuits to the base ring oscillator circuit to produce different versions of the variable ring oscillator circuit, the test circuit conducts a separate test of the integrated circuit for at least one of the versions of the variable ring oscillator circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification