Patent ID: 6617181
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
In a method of fabricating an integrated circuit, the improvement comprising the steps of:fabricating circuit structures including at least one of logic elements and memory elements, fabricating core power contacts and core ground contacts in a core disposed at an interior portion of the integrated circuit, fabricating signal contacts, peripheral power contacts, and peripheral ground contacts in a peripheral disposed at an edge portion of the integrated circuit, where the peripheral power contacts are redundant to at least some of the core power contacts, and the peripheral ground contacts are redundant to at least some of the core power contacts, testing the integrated circuit by, providing electrical power to the circuit structures with the peripheral power contacts and the peripheral ground contacts, and sending and receiving electrical signals between the circuit structures and external circuitry with the signal contacts, packaging the integrated circuit by, making electrical connections to, the core power contacts and the core ground contacts for providing electrical power to the circuit structures during functional operation of the integrated circuit, and the signal contacts for sending and receiving electrical signals between the circuit structures and external circuitry during functional operation of the integrated circuit, and enclosing the integrated circuit in a package to protect the integrated circuit.