Micro electro mechanical switch system and method for testing and configuring semiconductor functional circuits
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit comprising:
- a plurality of functional components for performing processing operations;
a distribution component for distributing information to said plurality of functional components;
a functional component configuration controller for configuring operational characteristics of one or more of said plurality of functional components; and
a micro electro-mechanical switch for selectively coupling and decoupling one or more of said plurality of functional components to and from a bus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention systems and methods enable configuration of functional components in integrated circuits. A present invention system and method utilizes micro electro-mechanical switches included in pathways of an integrated circuit to flexibly change the operational characteristics of functional components in an integrated circuit die based upon a variety of factors including power conservation, manufacturing defects, compatibility characteristics, performance requirements, and system health (e.g., the number of components operating properly). The micro electro-mechanical switches are selectively opened and closed to permit and prevent electrical current flow to and from functional components. Opening the micro electro-mechanical switches also enables power conservation by facilitating isolation of a component and minimization of impacts associated with leakage currents.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a plurality of functional components for performing processing operations; a distribution component for distributing information to said plurality of functional components; a functional component configuration controller for configuring operational characteristics of one or more of said plurality of functional components; and a micro electro-mechanical switch for selectively coupling and decoupling one or more of said plurality of functional components to and from a bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A functional component configuration process comprising:
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receiving a functional component configuration alteration indication; changing a mirco electro-mechanical switch state utilizing a processor based upon said functional component configuration alteration indication; and diverting workflow in accordance with said functional component configuration alteration indication. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An integrated circuit comprising:
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a plurality of functional components for performing similar parallel operations; a functional component controller for controlling enablement and disablement of one or more of said plurality of functional components; a plurality of micro electro-mechanical switches for selectively permitting and preventing flow of electrical current to each one of said plurality of functional components individually; and an allocation component for allocating information to each one of said plurality of functional components that is enable and preventing allocation of information to each one of said plurality of functional components that is disabled. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification