Patent ID: 8436639
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: G01R,H01L

Abstract:
1. An integrated circuit comprising: at least one first buffer having an input and output, wherein at least one of the input and output of the first buffer is electrically coupleable to respective multiple through-silicon vias (TSVs) to carry a signal in at least one of two opposite directions to and from the TSV; at least one flip-flop device that stores at least one bit of information, wherein at least one of an input and an output of the flip-flop device is electrically coupled to said at least one first buffer in a configuration wherein a value can be stored in the flip-flop from the respective TSV or applied to the respective TSV from the at least one flip-flop, via the respective first buffer; at least one second buffer having an input and output, wherein the inputs and outputs of the first and second buffers are electrically coupled to one of multiple TSVs and an input of the at least one flip-flop device, respectively, for carrying signals in opposite directions between the flip-flop device and said one of the TSVs, wherein a value is readable from said one of the TSVs to the flip-flop device and readable from the flip-flop device to said one of the TSVs by operation of the first and second buffers to carry signals in opposite directions.