Laser programmable integrated circuit
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsF. Matthew Rhodes, Jack I. Raffel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laser programmable integrated circuit chip has a plurality of logic modules organized as rows and columns. The modules and other chip components are connected by a grid-like array of conductors. The conductors are initially unattached. Customization occurs by fusing laser diffuseable links and severing cut points on the conductors. The modules have continuous conductor lines running through them. These conductor lines aid in testing and are useful in routing and error avoidance. The chip also contains test registers to test the array of logic modules, the input/output blocks, and the conductors.
Claims24
A laser programmable integrated circuit comprising:
- (a) an array of logic modules;
- (b) a grid-like array of laser breakable conductors in connection with the logic modules comprising:
- (i) a first set of conductors;
- and
- (ii) a second set of conductors which cross the first set of conductors;
- wherein the first and second sets of conductors are electrically isolated;
- and
- (c) a set of laser activated links which connect adjacent conductors that cross when irradiated by a laser beam.
A laser programmable integrated circuit comprising:
- (a) an array of logic modules comprising:
- (1) first two input AND gate;
- (2) a second two input AND gate wherein one input is output of a two input NOR gate, the NOR gate having one input which is also an input for the first AND gate;
- (3) a two input NOR gate wherein the inputs are the outputs of the two AND gates;
- (4) an inverter connected to output of the NOR gate and which produces an output for the module, FN;
- (5) an inverter connect of the other inverter and which produces an output for the module, F;
- wherein the logic modules are aligned in parallel rows and columns;
- the logic modules have continuous lines connecting the leads of one side of the module to the leads on the opposite side of the module;
- (b) a grid-like array of sets of laser breakable conductors which connect the logic modules to other logic modules, inputs and outputs comprising:
- (1) a first set of conductors;
- and
- (2) a second set of conductors which cross the first set of conductors;
- wherein the first and second sets of conductors are electrically isolated and all the sets of conductors are unconnected prior to laser programming;
- (c) a set of laser diffuseable links which connect adjacent conductors that cross when irradiated by a laser beam;
- and comprise two diodes formed by doped regions in a substrate separated by a gap of a few microns;
- wherein to program the logic modules, the conductors may be severed at given outpoints arranged between every other conductor segment between the cross-points of the first and second sets of conductors, and the laser diffuseable links are located in such a way that there is a link corresponding to each cross-point of the first and second set of conductors and may be connected through irradiation by a laser beam;
- (d) a set of testing registers for testing whether the unprogrammed modules and conductors have been properly fabricated.
A programmable integrated circuit comprising:
- (a) an array of logic modules;
- (b) a first set of continuous input and output conductors interconnecting groups of logic modules, the conductors being breakable to leave programmable interconnections between logic modules;
- and
- (c) means for selecting individual logic modules for testing of the array through the input and output conductors.
A programmed integrated circuit comprising laser diffuseable links and means for applying a back voltage to the non-diffused links.
A programmable integrated circuit comprising laser diffuseable links and a set of logic modules arranged in parallel rows and columns, there being continuous lines from leads on one side of the module to the leads on the other side of the module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.