Device and method for testing integrated circuit dice in an integrated circuit module

An integrated circuit die comprising:

• a die connection terminal to receive a first mode initiating signal from circuitry external to the integrated circuit die;
• a function circuit responsive to the first mode initiating signal by entering a first mode and responsive to a second mode initiating signal by entering a second mode;
• a switching circuit connected between the die connection terminal and the function circuit to selectively isolate the function circuit from the die connection terminal and to conduct the first mode initiating signal to the function circuit, the switching circuit comprising a programmable circuit;
• and
• an impedance circuit connected to the function circuit to conduct the second mode initiating signal to the function circuit upon the function circuit being isolated from the die connection terminal and to support a voltage differential between the first mode initiating signal at the function circuit and the second mode initiating signal.

An integrated circuit module comprising:

• a first terminal and second terminal for receiving respectively a first voltage and a second voltage from circuitry external to the integrated circuit module;
• a plurality of integrated circuit dice, each integrated circuit die including:
• an external communication terminal;
• and
• a function circuit coupled to the external communication terminal responsive to the first voltage by entering a first mode and to be responsive to the second voltage by entering a second mode, the second mode being different than the first mode;
• a switching apparatus connected between the first terminal and the external communication terminal of each integrated circuit die of the plurality of integrated circuit dice to selectively isolate the function circuit from the first terminal and to conduct the first voltage to the function circuit, the switching apparatus comprising a programmable circuit;
• and
• an impedance apparatus connected between the second terminal and each external communication terminal of each integrated circuit die of the plurality of integrated circuit dice to conduct the second voltage to the function circuit upon isolating the function circuit from the first terminal and to support a voltage differential between the first voltage at the function circuit and the second voltage at the second terminal.

An integrated circuit module substrate attached to at least one integrated circuit die and having an external communication terminal, the at least one integrated circuit die entering a test mode in response to receiving a test operation signal through its external communication terminal and entering an operational mode in response to receiving a regular operation signal through its external communication terminal, the integrated circuit module substrate comprising:

• a test terminal to receive a test operation signal from circuitry external to the integrated circuit module substrate;
• an operational terminal to receive the regular operation signal from circuitry external to the integrated circuit module substrate;
• a switching circuit for connection between the test terminal and the external communication terminal of the at least one integrated circuit die to selectively isolate the external communication terminal from the test terminal and to conduct the test operation signal to the external communication terminal;
• and
• an impedance circuit for connection between the operational terminal and the external communication terminal of the integrated circuit die to conduct the regular operation signal to the external communication terminal upon isolation of the external communication terminal from the test terminal and to support a voltage differential between the test operation signal at the external communication terminal and the regular operation signal at the operational terminal.

An integrated circuit module comprising:

• at least one terminal to receive a first voltage and a second voltage from circuitry external to the module;
• at least one integrated circuit die, each integrated circuit die including:
• one or more function circuits, each function circuit responsive to the first voltage by entering a first mode and responsive to the second voltage by entering a second mode;
• and
• a plurality of external communication terminals, a first portion of the external communication terminals coupled to the one or more function circuits and a second portion of the external communication terminals receiving the second voltage when the one or more function circuits are in the first mode;
• and
• a conduction circuit coupled between the one or more terminals and each first portion of the plurality of external communication terminals of the at least one integrated circuit die and isolated from each second portion of the plurality of external communication terminals of the at least one integrated circuit die to conduct the first voltage and the second voltage to each circuit of the one or more function circuits of the at least one integrated circuit die in the respective first and second modes, said conduction circuit including a switching circuit.

A method for initiating a first mode and a second mode in a function circuit in each of one or more integrated circuit dice in an integrated circuit module having a module terminal, the function circuit being of the type to enter the first and second modes in response to receiving respective first mode initiate and second mode initiate signals, each integrated circuit die of the one or more integrated circuit dice including one or more external communication terminals to receive the first mode initiate signal, the method comprising:

• receiving the first mode initiate signal at the module terminal;
• conducting the first mode initiate signal to external communication terminals for receiving the first mode initiate signal and from those external communication terminals to the function circuit for initiating the first mode therein, said conducting the first mode initiate signal at least includes connecting the module terminal to the function circuit through one of the external communication terminals for receiving the first mode initiate signal;
• discontinuing conducting the first mode initiate signal to the function circuit;
• and
• conducting the second mode initiate signal to the function circuit for initiating the second mode therein.