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US 6,633,183 B2Granted
Antifuse reroute of dies
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorKevin Duesman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit is provided with a programmable switching matrix incorporating at least one antifuse to selectively route signal paths. The selective routing of signal paths may be used for example, to internally reroute contact pin assignments on semiconductor chips to operate in a plurality of different socket layouts, or to selectively enable or disable features or controls of a circuit. A further alternative involves programming a first chip, then stacking piggyback, or one on top of the other, the first chip onto a second chip. The contact pins are electrically coupled together, thus avoiding the need for external frames and pin rerouting schemes to form stacked chips. In the stacked chip configuration, control pins are rerouted to align with unused pins on the chip stacked therewith.
Claims60
A method of routing a signal in a semiconductor device comprising:
- providing a first signal path having a first segment and a second segment;
- coupling a logic circuit to said first segment of said first signal path;
- coupling a first connector pad to said second segment of said first signal path;
- positioning a routing matrix circuit in-line with said first signal path disposed between said first and second segments;
- isolating said routing matrix from said first and second segments;
- programming said routing circuit to a select one of a first state wherein said first segment is coupled to said second segment, and a second state wherein said first segment is decoupled from said second segment;
- and,
- re-coupling said first and second segments to said routing matrix.
5 more elements
A method of routing a signal in a semiconductor device comprising:
- providing a routing matrix circuit;
- providing a logic circuit;
- coupling a first signal path between said routing matrix circuit and said logic circuit;
- coupling a plurality of second signal paths to said routing matrix, wherein each of said second signal paths is independent from one another;
- and,
- programming said routing matrix circuit to selectively connect said first signal path to zero or more of said plurality of second signal paths, wherein said first signal path is isolated from the remainder ones of said plurality of second signal paths.
3 more elements
A method of routing a signal in a semiconductor device comprising:
- providing a routing matrix circuit;
- providing a logic circuit;
- coupling a plurality of first signal path between said routing matrix circuit and said logic circuit, each of said plurality of first signal paths independent from one another;
- coupling a second signal path to said routing matrix;
- and,
- programming said routing matrix circuit to selectively connect said second signal path to zero or more of said plurality of first signal paths, wherein said second signal path is isolated from the remainder ones of said plurality of first signal paths.
3 more elements
A method of rerouting signals comprising:
- providing a first signal path having a first segment and a second segment;
- coupling a logic circuit to said first segment of said first signal path;
- coupling a first connector pad to said second segment of said first signal path;
- positioning a routing matrix circuit comprising at least one antifuse in-line with said first signal path disposed serially between said first and second segments, said routing matrix circuit programmable between a first state wherein said first segment is coupled to said second segment, and a second state wherein said first segment is decoupled from said second segment;
- and,
- programming said routing matrix circuit to select between a select one of said first and second states.
3 more elements
A method of routing signals comprising:
- providing a logic circuit;
- providing a routing matrix coupled to said logic circuit by a first signal path, and coupled to a connector pad by a second signal path, said routing matrix provided by:
- coupling a switching matrix between said first and second signal paths;
- providing at least one antifuse;
- and,
- coupling a sensing circuit between said at least one antifuse and said switching matrix;
- and,
- providing a programming circuit coupled to said at least one antifuse arranged to selectively program said routing matrix to select one of first and second states, wherein said first signal path is coupled to said second signal path by said switching matrix in said first state, and said first signal path is isolated from said second signal path by said switching matrix in said second state.
5 more elements
A method of routing a signal comprising:
- providing an antifuse programmable from a first state to a second state;
- coupling an antifuse programming circuit to said antifuse;
- coupling an antifuse sensing circuit to said antifuse;
- and,
- coupling a routing matrix having a first side contact pad, a second side contact pad, and at least one switch disposed between said first side contact pad and said second side contact pad to said antifuse sensing circuit, wherein said at least one switch acts as an open circuit when said antifuse is in said first state, and said switch acts as a closed circuit when said antifuse is in said second state.
2 more elements
A method for programmably rerouting signals in a semiconductor die comprising:
- providing an antifuse;
- coupling an antifuse programming circuit to said antifuse circuit;
- coupling an antifuse sensing circuit to said antifuse, said antifuse sensing circuit having a first antifuse node communicating whether said antifuse is in an on state or an off state;
- and,
- coupling a switch having a first side contact, a second side contact and a control, wherein said control is coupled to said first antifuse node.
2 more elements
A method of routing a signal comprising:
- providing a logic circuit;
- coupling at least one signal path to said logic circuit;
- and,
- coupling a routing matrix circuit between each signal path and at least one connector pad, said routing matrix programmable to selectively couple and decouple each signal path to each connector pad, wherein said routing matrix is realized by:
- providing at least one antifuse;
- providing a switching matrix comprising at least one switch disposed serially between each signal path and connector pad;
- coupling a sensing circuit between said at least one antifuse and said switching matrix, wherein said sensing circuit outputs at least one switch control signal coding the programmed state of said at least one antifuse;
- and,
- coupling a programming circuit to said routing matrix circuit, said programming circuit arranged to selectively program said switching matrix, wherein said programming circuit is arranged to isolate said at least one antifuse from said first signal path during programming.
6 more elements
A method of routing signals comprising:
- providing at least one antifuse programmable from a first state to a second state;
- coupling an antifuse programming circuit to said at least one antifuse;
- coupling an antifuse sensing circuit to said at least one antifuse;
- and,
- coupling a routing matrix to said antifuse sensing circuit, said routing matrix having at least one first side contact, at least one second side contact, and at least one switch disposed between said at least one first side contact and said at least one second side contact, wherein said at least one switch acts as an open circuit when said at least one antifuse is in said first state, and said at least one switch acts as a closed circuit when said at least one antifuse is in said second state, and wherein said at least one switch is programmable to selectively couple and decouple any of said at least one first side contact pad to any of said at least one second side contact pad.
2 more elements
A method of providing a semiconductor die with internally assignable contact pads comprising:
- providing a logic circuit on said die;
- forming a programmable routing matrix having a switching circuit on said die;
- coupling a connector path to said routing matrix;
- and,
- coupling a plurality of signal paths from said logic circuit to said routing matrix wherein said switching circuit is programmable between first and second states to selectively route any of said plurality of signal paths to said connector path.
2 more elements
A method of forming a first semiconductor die with internally assignable contact pads comprising:
- providing a logic circuit;
- providing a programmable routing matrix having a switching circuit;
- coupling a signal path to said switching circuit;
- and,
- coupling a plurality of connector paths to said routing matrix, wherein said switching circuit is programmable between first and second states to selectively route any of said plurality of connector paths to said signal path.
2 more elements
A method of fabricating a first semiconductor die with internally assignable contact pads comprising:
- providing a logic circuit;
- providing a programmable routing matrix comprising a switching circuit having at least one antifuse;
- coupling a signal path between said logic circuit and said switching circuit;
- coupling a connector path to said switching circuit, wherein said switching circuit is programmable between a first state wherein said signal path is coupled to said connector path, and a second state wherein said signal path is decoupled from said connector path, and wherein said at least one antifuse is positioned serially between said connector path and said signal path;
- and,
- coupling a programming circuit to said at least one antifuse.
3 more elements
A method of making a semiconductor die with internally assignable contact pads comprising:
- providing a logic circuit;
- providing a programmable routing matrix having a switching circuit;
- coupling at least one signal path between said logic circuit and said routing matrix;
- and,
- coupling at least one contact to said routing matrix, wherein said switching circuit is programmable to route and isolate each signal path to each contact.
2 more elements
A method of making a semiconductor die with internally assignable contact pads comprising:
- providing a logic circuit;
- providing a routing matrix having:
- at least one antifuse;
- an antifuse programming circuit coupled to said at least one antifuse;
- and,
- an antifuse sensing circuit coupling said at least one antifuse to at least one switch;
- coupling at least one signal path between said logic circuit and said at least one switch;
- and,
- coupling at least one contact pad to said at least one switch, wherein said routing matrix is programmable to route and isolate each signal path to each contact pad.
6 more elements
A method of using a semiconductor with reroutable signal paths comprising:
- providing a semiconductor die having:
- a logic circuit;
- a routing matrix circuit;
- at least one contact pad coupled to said routing matrix circuit;
- and,
- at least one signal path coupled between said logic circuit and said routing matrix circuit, wherein said routing matrix programmable using at least one antifuse to selectively couple and decouple each signal path to each contact pad;
- and,
- programming said at least one antifuse to achieve a predetermined functionality.
5 more elements
A method of making a semiconductor die stack comprising:
- providing at least two semiconductor dies, each having:
- a logic circuit;
- a routing matrix circuit;
- at least one contact pad coupled to said routing matrix circuit;
- and,
- at least one signal path coupled between said logic circuit and said routing matrix circuit, wherein said routing matrix is programmable using at least one antifuse to selectively couple and decouple each signal path to each contact pad;
- and,
- piggybacking each semiconductor die such that at least one contact pad on each semiconductor die is coupled to an associated contact pad on the remainder of said semiconductor dies.
5 more elements
A method of using a semiconductor die stack comprising:
- providing a first semiconductor die having:
- a first logic circuit;
- a first routing matrix circuit;
- at least one first die contact pad coupled to said first routing matrix circuit;
- and,
- at least one first die signal path coupled between said first logic circuit and said first routing matrix circuit, wherein said first routing matrix circuit is programmable using at least one antifuse to selectively couple and decouple each first die signal path to each first die contact pad;
- programming said at least one antifuse on said first semiconductor die such that said first logic circuit couples to a first one of said first die contact pads, and a second one of said first die contact pads is isolated from said first logic circuit;
- providing a second semiconductor die having:
- a second logic circuit;
- a second routing matrix circuit;
- at least one second die contact pad coupled to said second routing matrix circuit;
- and,
- at least one second die signal path coupled between said second logic circuit and said second routing matrix circuit, wherein said second routing matrix circuit is programmable using at least one antifuse to selectively couple and decouple each second die signal path to each second die contact pad;
- programming said at least one antifuse on said second semiconductor die such that said second logic circuit couples to a first one of said second die contact pads, and a second one of said second die contact pads is isolated from said second logic circuit;
- and,
- piggybacking said first and second semiconductor dies such that said first one of said first die contact pads is coupled to said second one of said second die contact pads, and said second one of said first die contact pads is coupled to said first one of said second die contact pads.
13 more elements
A method of making a semiconductor die stack comprising:
- providing a plurality of semiconductor dies, each having:
- a logic circuit;
- a plurality of contact pads;
- at least one unused contact pad isolated from said logic circuit;
- a routing matrix circuit;
- and,
- a plurality of signal paths coupling said logic circuit to said plurality of contact pads, wherein at least one of said plurality of signal paths is routed to said routing matrix, and at least one of said plurality of contact pads is routed to said routing matrix;
- said routing matrix programmable using at least one antifuse to selectively couple and decouple said at least one of said plurality of signals and said at least one of said plurality of contacts;
- piggybacking said plurality semiconductor dies on each other;
- and,
- coupling together the ones of said plurality of contact pads on each of said plurality of semiconductor dies that align generally vertically.
8 more elements
A method of fabricating a semiconductor die stack with internally assignable contact pads comprising:
- providing a first semiconductor die by:
- providing a first logic circuit on said first semiconductor die;
- providing a programmable routing matrix on said first semiconductor die;
- coupling at least one contact pad on said first semiconductor die to said routing matrix;
- and,
- coupling at least one signal path between said logic circuit and said routing matrix, wherein said routing matrix is programmable to selectively route each signal path to any of said at least one contact pad;
- providing a second semiconductor die by:
- providing a logic circuit on said second semiconductor die;
- providing a plurality of contact pads on said semiconductor die;
- coupling a signal path from said logic circuit to each of said plurality of contact pads;
- and,
- providing at least one unused contact pad on said second semiconductor die decoupled from said logic circuit;
- piggybacking said first and second semiconductor dies;
- and,
- coupling each contact pad on said first semiconductor die to an associated one of said plurality of contact pads and said at least one unused contact pad on said second semiconductor die.
12 more elements
A method of stacking semiconductor dies comprising:
- providing a first semiconductor die, said first semiconductor die provided by:
- providing a first logic circuit on said first semiconductor die;
- providing a plurality of first die contact pads on said first semiconductor die;
- coupling a plurality of signal paths between said logic circuit and an associated one of said plurality of first die contact pads,
- providing a first routing matrix circuit;
- coupling at least one reroutable signal path between said first logic circuit and said first routing matrix circuit;
- and,
- coupling at least one reroutable contact pad to said first routing matrix circuit, wherein said first routing matrix circuit is programmable for each reroutable signal path to isolate said reroutable signal path from all reroutable contact pads or to selectively form an electrical connection between said reroutable signal path at least one reroutable contact pad;
- providing a second semiconductor die, said second semiconductor die provided by:
- forming a second logic circuit on said second semiconductor die;
- forming a plurality of second die contact pads;
- and,
- coupling a second die signal path between each of said plurality of second die contact pads and said second logic circuit;
- and,
- piggybacking said first and second semiconductor dies such that each of said plurality of first die contact pads is coupled to an associated one of said plurality of second die contact pads.
12 more elements
A method of making a chip assembly comprising:
- providing a first chip having a plurality of contact pins, and a rerouting circuit programmable to reroute an internal signal from a first one of said plurality of contact pins to a second one of said plurality of contact pins;
- and,
- providing a second chip having a plurality of contact pins, wherein at least one of said plurality of contact pins is unused, wherein select ones of said plurality of contact pins of said first chip are coupled to associated ones of said plurality of contact pins of said second chip.
A method of using a semiconductor chip stack comprising:
- providing a first semiconductor chip having:
- a first logic circuit;
- a first routing matrix circuit;
- and,
- at least one first chip contact pin coupled to said first routing matrix;
- and,
- at least one first chip signal path coupled between said first logic circuit and said first routing matrix circuit, wherein said first routing matrix circuit is programmable using at least one antifuse to selectively couple and decouple each first chip signal path to each first chip contact pin;
- programming said at least one antifuse on said first semiconductor chip such that said first logic circuit couples to a first one of said first chip contact pins, and a second one of said first chip contact pins is isolated from said first chip logic circuit;
- providing a second semiconductor chip having:
- a second logic circuit;
- a second routing matrix circuit;
- and,
- at least one second chip contact pin coupled to said second routing matrix;
- and,
- at least one second chip signal path coupled between said second logic circuit and said second routing matrix circuit, wherein said second routing matrix circuit is programmable using at least one antifuse to selectively couple and decouple each second chip signal path to each second chip contact pin;
- programming said at least one antifuse on said second semiconductor chip such that said second logic circuit couples to a first one of said second chip contact pins, and a second one of said second chip contact pins is isolated from said second chip logic circuit;
- and,
- piggybacking said first and second semiconductor chips such that said first one of said first chip contact pins is coupled to said second one of said second chip contact pins, and said second one of said first chip contact pins is coupled to said first one of said second chip contact pins.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.