US 5,184,162 A · Testing integrated circuit using an A/D converter built in a semiconductor chip

Abstract

A testing integrated circuit using an A/D converter provided in an integrated circuit on a semiconductor chip. A selector is provided for selecting either an external signal supplied from an external portion of the chip or an internal signal generated by an internal circuit of the chip, and for outputting the selected signal. The A/D converter, which receives an output from the selector, is normally used for A/D-converting an external signal. During reliability test, the A/D converter receives a signal to measure a voltage from the internal portion of the chip, and A/D-converts the received signal. An output pad which transmits the output of the A/D converter to the external portion is also used as a general output pad. The general output pad is employed to A/D-convert the external signal.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A testing integrated circuit comprising:

selecting means, provided in an integrated circuit of a semiconductor chip, for selecting one of a first signal supplied from an external portion of said semiconductor chip and a second signal used for measuring voltage at a predetermined portion in an internal circuit of said semiconductor chip, said first signal being converted from analog to digital during normal operation of said semiconductor chip;
an analog to digital converter provided in said integrated circuit, said analog to digital converter receiving an analog signal output from said selecting means and producing a digital output;
and
a plurality of output pads disposed in said semiconductor chip, said output pads transmitting said digital output from said analog to digital converter to said external portion, said output pads corresponding to a bit quantity of said analog to digital converter.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Testing integrated circuit using an A/D converter built in a semiconductor chip

Life of this patent

Testing integrated circuit using an A/D converter built in a semiconductor chip

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7