Patent ID: 6600325
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A method for capacitively probing electrical signals within an integrated circuit, comprising:placing a probe conductor in close proximity to, but not touching, a target conductor within the integrated circuit, wherein a size of the probe conductor and the target conductor is commensurate with a smallest feature found on the integrated circuit; wherein the probe conductor and the target conductor form a capacitor that stores a charge between the probe conductor and the target conductor; detecting a change in a probe voltage on the probe conductor caused by a change in a target voltage on the target conductor; determining a logic value for the target conductor from the change in the probe voltage; and allowing testing circuitry coupled to the probe conductor to gather the logic value, wherein the testing circuitry is integrated into the probe conductor; whereby the size of the probe conductor and the target conductor allows testing of the integrated circuit independent of a mounting substrate.