Abstract:
Disclosed is a probe card for testing a wireless module on an integrated circuit die contained on a wafer. The probe card includes a connector and a plurality of probes. The connector connects the probe card to test equipment. The plurality of probes connects the probe card to a wafer containing a plurality of integrated circuit dies. The probe card additionally includes an antenna configured to transmit a wireless test signal to be received by at least one of the integrated circuit dies, and/or to receive a wireless signal transmitted by at least one of the integrated circuit dies.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/089,099, filed Dec. 8, 2014, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to testing of a wireless transceiver of an integrated circuit. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Modern integrated circuit dies may include embedded wireless receivers, transmitters, and/or transceivers. Conventionally, the testing of embedded wireless modules (meaning: receivers, transmitters, and/or transceivers) is done after packaging of the integrated circuit die. However, the manufacturer of the integrated circuit may want to know if there are any defective circuits earlier in the manufacturing process. For instance, the manufacturer may be able to fix some defects to increase the yield of the manufacturing process, or may discard the defective dies before they are packaged, reducing the cost of the manufacturing process. 
         [0006]    Thus, there is a need for testing of wireless modules before the packaging of the integrated circuit including the wireless module. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art by using a probe card that includes a wireless module. The wireless probe card may probe an integrated circuit die and send signals to the die to either receive or transmit a wireless signal. The probe card then receives wireless signals sent by the integrated circuit die, or transmits wireless signals to be received by the integrated circuit die. A determination whether the integrated circuit die is defective can then be made based on the behavior of the integrated circuit die. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the wireless probe card includes a housing, a connector disposed on the housing and a plurality of probes protruding from the housing. The connector connects the probe card to a test equipment. The plurality of probes connects the probe card to one or more integrated circuit dies. The probe card additionally includes an antenna configured to transmit a wireless signal to be received by at least one of the one or more integrated circuit dies, and/or to receive a wireless signal sent by at least one of the one or more integrated circuit dies. 
         [0009]    Other aspects include components, devices, systems, improvements, methods, processes, applications and other technologies related to the foregoing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention has other advantages and features which will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional side view of a setup for testing integrated circuits with embedded wireless transceivers and antennas, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram for testing the first die and the second die, according to one embodiment 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional side view of a setup for testing integrated circuits with embedded wireless transceivers and antennas, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram for testing a receiver of a die, according to one embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram for testing a transmitter of a die, according to one embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional side view of a setup for testing integrated circuits with embedded wireless transceivers and antennas, according to another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The Figures (FIGS.) and the following description relate to preferred embodiments by way of illustration only. It should be noted that from the following discussion, alternative embodiments of the structures and methods disclosed herein will be readily recognized as viable alternatives that may be employed without departing from the principles of what is claimed. 
         [0018]    Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is noted that wherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used in the figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figures depict embodiments of the disclosed system (or method) for purposes of illustration only. Alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles described herein. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a setup for testing an integrated circuit that includes a wireless transceiver and antenna, according to one embodiment. In this setup, a silicon wafer  100  is being probed with probe card  160 . The silicon wafer  100  contains multiple dies  105 . Each die  105  includes multiple bumps  150  that are used to provide a wired electrical interface to the die  105 . 
         [0020]    Probe card  160  includes multiple probe tips  170  to interface with bumps  150 . The probe card is also connected to automatic testing equipment (ATE)  180 . ATE  180  is configured to send test signals to dies  105  through probe card  160  and to receive output signals from dies  105  through probe card  160 . ATE  180  determines whether a received output signal from a die  105  is of an expected value and determines whether the die  105  is defective. 
         [0021]    Bumps  150  may be coupled to an input/output block  110 . The input output block  110  may, for example, contain input and/or output buffers. The input output block  110  is coupled to a logic block  120 . Logic block  120  includes circuitry to perform different operations. Logic block  120  is also coupled to wireless transceiver  130 . Wireless transceiver  130  receives signals from logic block  120  and wirelessly transmits the signals using antenna  140 . 
         [0022]    During testing of dies  105  of silicon wafer  100 , at least two dies  105 A and  105 B are probed using probe card  160 . In some embodiments, a single die that includes two transceivers or a single die that includes a transmitter and a receiver is probed using probe card  160 .  FIG. 2  is a flow diagram for testing the first die  105 A and the second die  105 B, according to one embodiment. In this example, the signal path for testing is from the probe card  160  through probe tips  170  to die  105 A to die antenna  140 A through a wireless channel to die antenna  140 B to die  105 B through probe tips  170  back to probe card  160 . The first die  105 A and the second die  105 B are probed  210  using the probe tips  170  of probe card  160 . 
         [0023]    A signal is sent  215 , by ATE  180  through probe tips  170  of probe card  160 , to second die  105 B to receive the wireless signal through antenna  140 B. A signal is sent  220 , by ATE  180  through probe tips  170  of probe card  160 , to the first die  105 A to cause the wireless transceiver  130 A to send a signal to antenna  140 A to transmit a wireless signal. For instance, ATE  180  may send a test pattern to be sent by antenna  140 A. The test pattern may include a sequence of bits to be encoded by wireless transceiver  130 A and sent to antenna  140 A by wireless transceiver  130 A for transmission. In other embodiments, ATE  180  sends a signal to die  105 A to generate a known pattern. For instance, ATE  180  may send a signal to die  105 A and logic  120 A may generate a test pattern based on the signal sent by ATE  180 . 
         [0024]    A wireless signal is thus transmitted by the first die  105 A using antenna  140 A and received by the second die  105 B using antenna  140 B. The wireless signal may then be processed by the wireless transceiver  130 B and sent to logic block  120 B. For instance, wireless transceiver  130 B may decode the wireless signal received by antenna  140 B, which was previously encoded by wireless transceiver  130 A. Logic block  120 B may further process the signal and send an output signal through the input/output block  110 B to the probe card  160  via the probe tips  170 . 
         [0025]    Probe card  160  then receives  225  the output signal and sends the signal to ATE  180 . ATE  180  processes the received output signal and determines whether the expected signal was received. For instance, ATE  180  may compare the received output signal to the test pattern sent to die  105 A for transmission. 
         [0026]    If the expected output signal is not received, ATE  180  determines  235  that either die  105 A or die  105 B (or both) are defective. Otherwise, if the expected output signal is received, ATE  180  determines  230  that both the first and the second die  105 A,  105 B are good. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a setup for testing an integrated circuit that includes a wireless transceiver and antenna, according to another embodiment. In this setup, the probe card  165  includes an antenna  175 , which can then communicate wirelessly with the antennae  140  on the dies  105 . The probe card  165  may also include a probe card controller  185 . Probe card controller may for example include circuitry to transmit and receive wireless signals through antenna  175 . For instance probe card controller may include a wireless transceiver to encode and decode wireless signals compatible to the encoding scheme used by wireless transceivers  130 A and  130 B of dies  105 A and  105 B. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the antenna  175  is located inside the body of the probe card  165 . For instance, antenna  175  may be printed in a circuit board of the probe card  165 . In other embodiments, the antenna  175  is disposed on an inner or outer surface of the body of the probe card  165 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram for testing a receiver of a die, according to one embodiment. In this example, the signal path for testing flows from probe card  165  to probe card antenna  175  to die antenna  140  and back through probe tips  170  to the probe card  165 . A die  105  is probed  310  using probe card  165 . In some embodiments multiple dies may be tested in parallel. For instance, the wireless signal transmitted by probe antenna  175  may be received by multiple die antennae  140 A, 140 B of multiple dies  105 A, 105 B. 
         [0030]    A signal is sent  315  via the probe tips to the die  105  to receive a wireless signal. The probe card  165  transmits  320  a wireless signal using antenna  175 . For instance, ATE  180  may send an encoded signal to be directly transmitted by probe antenna  175 . Alternatively, ATE  180  may send a digital test pattern to be encoded by probe card controller  185  and subsequently sent by probe antenna  175 . In another example, ATE  180  may send a signal to probe card  165  to generate a test pattern. For instance, probe card controller  185  may include logic to generate a test pattern based on a signal received from ATE  180 . The probe card controller  185  may further encode the generated test pattern and send the encoded test pattern through antenna  175 . 
         [0031]    Die  105 A receives  325  the wireless signal using antenna  140 . The die  105  may process the wireless signal and sends  330  an output signal via the probe tips to the probe card  165 . For instance, the wireless transceiver  130 A may decode the wireless signal received by die antenna  140 A and logic  120 A may further process the decoded signal. 
         [0032]    Probe card  160  then receives  335  the output signal and sends the signal to ATE  180 . ATE  180  processes the received output signal and determines whether the expected signal was received. If the expected output signal is not received, ATE  180  determines  345  that the die  105  is defective. Otherwise, if the expected output signal is received, ATE  180  determines  340  the die  105  is good. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram for testing a transmitter of a die, according to one embodiment. In this example, the signal path for testing flows from probe card  165  through probe tips  170  to die  105  to die antenna  140  through a wireless channel to probe card antenna  175 . A die  105  is probed  350  using probe card  165 . A signal is sent  355  via probe tips  170  to the die  105  to transmit a wireless signal. The die receives the signal and transmit the wireless signal using antenna  140 . The probe card  165  receives  360  the wireless signal using antenna  175 . 
         [0034]    Probe card  165  may process the wireless signal and send an output signal to ATE  180 . ATE  180  processes the received output signal and determines whether the expected signal was received. If the expected output signal is not received, ATE  180  determines  370  that the die  105  is defective. Otherwise, if the expected output signal is received, ATE  180  determines  365  the die  105  is good. 
         [0035]    During testing of die  105 A of silicon wafer  100 , a signal is supplied to a first die  105 A to cause the wireless transceiver  130 A to send a signal to antenna  140 A to transmit a wireless signal. The wireless signal is received by the probe card  165  via antenna  175 . The received signal is then processed by probe card controller  185  and sent to ATE  180 . ATE  180  processes the received output signal and determines whether the expected signal was received. If the expected signal is not received, ATE  180  determines that die  105 A is defective. 
         [0036]    Alternatively, during testing of die  105 A of silicon wafer  100 , a wireless signal is transmitted by probe card  165  via antenna  175 . At the same time, a signal is supplied to die  105 A to receive the wireless signal through antenna  140 A. The wireless signal may then be processed by the wireless transceiver  130 A and sent to logic block  120 A. Logic block  120 A may further process the signal and send an output signal through the input/output block  110 A to the probe card  165 . 
         [0037]    Probe card  165  may then receive the output signal and send the signal to ATE  180 . ATE  180  processes the received output signal and determines whether the expected signal was received. If the expected signal is not received, ATE  180  determines that die  105 A is defective. 
         [0038]    In some embodiments, multiple dies  105  may be tested in parallel. For instance, a wireless signal may be transmitted by probe card  165 . The wireless signal may be received by both dies  105 A and  105 B in parallel. Each die  105 A and  105 B sends a respective output signal to probe  165  and ATE  180  determines whether a die under test is defective. 
         [0039]    In other embodiments, the wireless signal is multiplexed to test multiple dies  105 . For instance, time division multiplexing (TDM) may be used to test dies  105 A and  105 B. During a first testing period, a first wireless signal is transmitted from the probe card via antenna  175 . A signal is sent to the first die via probe tips  170  to receive and process the first wireless signal. Then, during a second testing period, a second wireless signal is transmitted from the probe card via antenna  175 . A signal is also sent to the second die via probe tips  170  to receive and process the second wireless signal. 
         [0040]    Other multiplexing schemes may also be used to test multiple dies  105 . For instance, code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), and the like may be used. 
         [0041]    In some embodiments, die  105  has an embedded transceiver, but does not have an antenna to transmit and/or receive a wireless signal. In that case, die  105  may use an external antenna to transmit and/or receive wireless signals. In this embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the probe card may include one or more antennae  190  that can be connected one or more dies to allow the dies  105  to transmit and/or receive wireless signals. 
         [0042]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , probe card  165  includes a probe card antenna  175 , one or more die antennae  190 . Optionally, probe card  165  includes a probe card controller  185 . 
         [0043]    In one embodiment, the signal path for testing the receiving capabilities of die  105 A flows from probe card  165  to probe card antenna  175  to die antenna  190 A located in the probe card. The signal then travels into die  105  through a probe tip  170  connected to the antenna. The signal may then be decoded by wireless transceiver  130 A and/or processed by logic  120 A. The signal is sent back to probe card  165  though probe tips  170 . The signals received from die  105 A by probe card  165  are then sent to ATE  180  for determining whether die  105 A is defective. 
         [0044]    Additionally, the signal path for testing the transmitting capabilities of die  105 A flows from probe card  165  to die  105 A through probe tips  170 . The signal may then be processed by logic  120 A and/or encoded by wireless transceiver  130 A and sent to a die antenna  190 A of probe card  165  through probe tip  170 . The die antenna  190 A of probe card  165  transmits a wireless signal which is then received by probe card antenna  175 . The wireless signal is optionally processed by probe card controller  185 . The signal is then sent to ATE  180  for determining whether die  105 A is defective. 
         [0045]    In other embodiments, the signal path for testing dies  105 A and  105  flows from probe card  165  to die  105 A though probe tips  170 . The signal may then be processed by logic  120 A and/or encoded by wireless transceiver  130 A for wireless transmission. The signal is then sent back to probe card  165  through a probe tip  170  to die antenna  190 A. Die antenna  190 A wirelessly send the signal and die antenna  190 B receives the wireless signal. The signal received by antenna  190 B is then sent to die  105 B though a probe tip  170 . The received signal is decoded by wireless transceiver  130 B and/or processed by logic  120 B. The signal is then sent back to probe card  165  through probe tips  170 . The signal is then sent to ATE  180  for determining whether die  105 A is defective. 
         [0046]    Although the detailed description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but merely as illustrating different examples and aspects of the invention. It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention includes other embodiments not discussed in detail above. Various modifications, changes and variations which will be apparent to those skilled in the art may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the method and apparatus of the present invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Furthermore, no element, component or method step is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. 
         [0047]    In the claims, reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly stated, but rather is meant to mean “one or more.” In addition, it is not necessary for a device or method to address every problem that is solvable by different embodiments of the invention in order to be encompassed by the claims.