Integrated circuit configuration system and method

• US 8,872,833 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: Van Dyke, James M., Montrym, John S., Nagy, Michael B., Treichler, Sean J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOW, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US10/740,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,967 Days
• Field of Search: 345/505, 345/506, 345/519, 345/557, 345/582, 345/698, 345/502, 702/40, 702/81, 702/82, 702/108, 702/123, 364/488, 455/418, 710/8, 714/10, 714/11, 714/30, 714/733, 714/25, 714/736, 714/6.13, 714/42, 714/E11.145, 714/6.32, 714/48, 714/799, 716/13
• US Class Current: 345/505
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31704 Design for test; Design verification concerning scan tests G01R31/318583; computer-aided design G06F30/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3185 Reconfiguring for testing, e.g. LSSD, partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/318544 Scanning methods, algorithms and patterns G01R31/3183 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2289 by configuration test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/267 Reconfiguring circuits for testing, e.g. LSSD, partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 22/22 Connection or disconnection of sub-entities or redundant parts of a device in response to a measurement testing and repair of stores after manufacture including at wafer scale G11C29/00; fuses per se H01L23/525
• 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 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

The present invention systems and methods enable configuration of functional components in integrated circuits. A present invention system and method can flexibly change the operational characteristics of functional components in an integrated circuit die based upon a variety of factors, including if the die has a defective component. An indication of the defective functional component identification is received. A determination is made if the defective functional component is one of a plurality of similar functional components that can provide the same functionality. The other similar components can be examined to determine if they are parallel components to the defective functional component. The defective functional component is disabled if it is one of the plurality of similar functional components and another component can handle the workflow that would otherwise be assigned to the defective component. Workflow is diverted from the disabled component to other similar functional components.

Claims

1. A computer usable non-transitory storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for causing a testing system to implement defective resolution module instructions comprising:

a functionality maintenance module for determining if an identified component is included in a group that is permitted to be disabled;

a corresponding component detection module for determining if there are related components that should be disabled associated with said identified component, wherein said related components include at least one otherwise properly functioning component; and

a disabling module for directing disablement of said identified component and at least one of said related components, including said at least one otherwise properly functioning component.

2. The computer usable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1 wherein said instructions are a driver.

3. The computer usable non-transitory storage medium of claim 2 wherein said driver is distributed via a network.

4. The computer usable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1 wherein said functionality maintenance module determines if there are other components that can handle workflow of said identified component.

5. The computer usable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1 wherein said functionality maintenance module checks said component identification against a predetermined list of components allowed to be disabled.

6. The computer usable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1 wherein said related components are disabled to maintain product performance differentiation.

7. The computer usable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1 wherein said disabling module sends a disablement signal directly to said identified component via a test interface.

8. The computer usable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1 wherein disabling module sends a signal to a component controller included in a tested die.

9. The computer usable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1 wherein disabling module directs disablement of said identified component if said functionality maintenance module provides an indication that it is permissible to disable said identified component.

10. The computer usable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1 further comprising a die marking module for directing die marking.

11. The computer usable non-transitory storage medium of claim 10 wherein die marking module directs marking of a die based upon one or more criteria.

12. The computer usable non-transitory storage medium of claim 10 wherein die marking module directs marking of a die upon if said identified component is disabled.

13. A functional component configuration process comprising:

determining if an identified component is included in a group that is permitted to be disabled;

determining if there are related components that should be disabled associated with said identified component, wherein said related components include at least one otherwise properly functioning component; and

directing disablement of said identified component and at least one of said related components, including said at least one otherwise properly functioning component.

14. The functional component configuration process of claim 13 wherein said instructions are a driver.

15. The functional component configuration process of claim 14 wherein said driver is distributed via a network.

16. The functional component configuration process of claim 13 wherein said determining if an identified component is included in a group that is permitted to be disabled includes determines if there are other components that can handle workflow of said identified component.

17. The functional component configuration process of claim 13 wherein said determining if an identified component is included in a group that is permitted to be disabled includes checking said component identification against a predetermined list of components allowed to be disabled.

18. The functional component configuration process of claim 13 wherein said related components are disabled to maintain product performance differentiation.

19. The functional component configuration process of claim 13 wherein said directing disablement includes sending a disablement signal directly to said identified component via a test interface.

20. The functional component configuration process of claim 13 wherein directing disablement includes sending a signal to a component controller included in a tested die.

21. The functional component configuration process of claim 13 wherein directing disablement includes directing disablement of said identified component if said functionality maintenance module provides an indication that it is permissible to disable said identified component.

22. The functional component configuration process of claim 13 further comprising directing die marking.

23. The functional component configuration process of claim 22 wherein said directing die marking includes directing marking of a die based upon one or more criteria.

24. The functional component configuration process of claim 22 wherein said directing die marking includes directing marking of a die upon if said identified component is disabled.

26. The processing unit of claim 13 wherein said instructions are a driver.

27. The processing unit of claim 26 wherein said driver is distributed via a network.

25. A processing unit comprising:

a plurality of components for performing processing operations, wherein defective components included in said plurality of components are disabled and non-defective components are selectively enabled;

a workflow control component for dispensing workflow to said selectively enabled components; and

wherein said plurality of components for performing processing operations are configured in accordance with;

determining if an identified component is included in a group that is permitted to be disabled;

determining if there are related components that should be disabled associated with said identified component, wherein said related components include at least one otherwise properly functioning component; and

directing disablement of said identified component and at least one of said related components, including said at least one otherwise properly functioning component.

28. The processing unit of claim 25 wherein said determining if an identified component is included in a group that is permitted to be disabled includes determines if there are other components that can handle workflow of said identified component.

29. The processing unit of claim 25 wherein said determining if an identified component is included in a group that is permitted to be disabled includes checking said component identification against a predetermined list of components allowed to be disabled.

30. The processing unit of claim 25 wherein said related components are disabled to maintain product performance differentiation.

31. The processing unit of claim 25 wherein said directing disablement includes sending a disablement signal directly to said identified component via a test interface.

32. The processing unit of claim 25 wherein directing disablement includes sending a signal to a component controller included in a tested die.

33. The processing unit of claim 25 wherein directing disablement includes directing disablement of said identified component if said functionality maintenance module provides an indication that it is permissible to disable said identified component.

34. The processing unit of claim 25 further comprising directing die marking based upon one or more criteria.