Patent ID: 6365859
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: B07C

Abstract:
A method of sorting integrated circuits (ICs) into performance classes comprising the steps of:acquiring for each IC in a sampled set of ICs measured parameters, said measured parameters comprising: a first parameter comprising a first maximum operating frequency at a first voltage and a first temperature; a second parameter comprising a first maximum operating temperature at said first voltage and a first frequency; and a third parameter comprising a first minimum operating voltage at said first temperature and said first frequency; graphing a first function comprising said first parameter versus said third parameter for each of said sampled set of ICs and calculating a corresponding first factor as a slope (numerical derivative) of said first function; graphing a second function, said second function comprising said second parameter versus said third parameter and calculating a corresponding second factor as a slope (numerical derivative) of said second function; acquiring for a production set of ICs a first production parameter comprising a second maximum operating frequency at a second voltage and a second temperature; adjusting said first production parameter using said first factor, said second factor or a combination of said first and second factors to a second production parameter, said second production parameter comprising a third maximum operating frequency at a third voltage and a third temperature; and partitioning said production set of ICs into performance classes based on said second production parameter, wherein said performance classes represent expected performance limits in an operating system environment for said ICs.