Systems and Methods Utilizing Redundancy in Semiconductor Chip Interconnects
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorsMichael Laisne, Karim Arabi, Tsvetomir Petrov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated circuit, or combination of integrated circuits, has a primary interconnect, a redundant interconnect, and circuitry connecting the primary and redundant interconnects allowing selection of the redundant interconnect to bypass the primary interconnect.
Claims25
An integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
- a primary interconnect and a redundant interconnect;
- and
- selection circuitry coupling said primary and redundant interconnects and allowing the selection of said redundant interconnect to bypass said primary interconnect.
A system comprising:
- a primary interconnect and a redundant interconnect;
- a module testing for operability of said primary interconnect;
- and
- circuitry selecting said redundant interconnect to be used in parallel with said primary interconnect when a result of said testing indicates operability of said primary interconnect.
A method for use in a system including a primary interconnect and a redundant interconnect and circuitry connecting said primary and redundant interconnects allowing selection of said redundant interconnect, said method comprising:
- testing said primary interconnect for operability;
- through said testing, discerning a failure in said primary interconnect;
- and
- selecting said redundant interconnect to reroute a signal path through said redundant interconnect.
A method for use in a system including a primary interconnect and a redundant interconnect and circuitry connecting said primary and redundant interconnects allowing selection of said redundant interconnect, said method comprising:
- testing said primary interconnect for operability;
- through said testing, discerning operability of said primary interconnect;
- and
- selecting said redundant interconnect to be used in parallel with said primary interconnect.
An integrated circuit (IC) comprising:
- a primary coupling means and a redundant coupling means;
- and
- means for connecting said primary interconnect and said redundant interconnect and allowing selection of said redundant interconnect to bypass said primary interconnect.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.