Integrated circuit burn-in board management system with effective burn-in board suspending and releasing mechanism

A burn-in board management system includes a production burn-in apparatus and a burn-in board status computer. The production burn-in apparatus is configured to test a plurality of integrated circuit devices mounted in slots of a burn-in board and comprising a first controller configured to generate a first burn-in board status map, wherein the first controller is further configured to suspend the burn-in board when the first burn-in board status map of the burn-in board demonstrates that more than a threshold percentage of the slots of the burn-in board are determined to be malfunctioned. The burn-in board status computer is communicably connected with the first controller of the production burn-in apparatus and configured to receive the first burn-in board status map.

BACKGROUND

Field of Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a management system, and more particularly to an integrated circuit burn-in board management system.

Description of Related Art

When producing semiconductors, manufacturers typically perform three different tests on the semiconductors prior to shipping: (1) sort, (2) burn-in, and (3) class testing. Sort test requires maintaining the wafers at a modest temperature while the wafers are probed for defects.

Burn-in of the semiconductors is typically accomplished utilizing elevated voltages and temperatures in a process that raises the junction temperatures of a batch of semiconductors. The lifespan of a semiconductor is closely related to its operating temperature wherein operating under increased temperatures reduces the effective lifespan of the semiconductor. By applying increased voltages and temperatures to a semiconductor, the weaker semiconductors will fail during testing. Class test is the final step in the testing process and is comprised of a final series of tests to validate functionality and quantify speeds.

A bum-in apparatus for semiconductor devices is generally known in which a multiplicity of devices are mounted on burn-in boards, the boards are stacked in multiple stages in a temperature controlled chamber, electric current is passed through the devices, hot air with a temperature adjusted to the prescribed temperature, for example 125° C., is caused to flow parallel to the burn-in boards inside the chamber and circulate.

The burn-in board is an interface board having slots allowing semiconductor devices mounted thereon and transferring electric current passed through the devices via its connectors. A part of slots and connectors of the burn-in board may be damaged or malfunctioned during burn-in process and could not allow semiconductor devices mounted thereon to execute burn-in process. A proper management system to maintain these burn-in boards would facilitate a high efficiency of the burn-in process.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a test apparatus configured to test a device under test to deal with the needs of the prior art problems.

In one or more embodiments, a burn-in board management system includes a production burn-in apparatus and a burn-in board status computer. The production burn-in apparatus is configured to test a plurality of integrated circuit devices mounted in slots of a burn-in board and comprising a first controller configured to generate a first burn-in board status map of the burn-in board, wherein the first controller is further configured to suspend the burn-in board when the first burn-in board status map of the burn-in board demonstrates that more than a threshold percentage of the slots of the burn-in board are determined to be malfunctioned. The burn-in board status computer is communicably connected with the first controller of the production burn-in apparatus and configured to receive the first burn-in board status map.

In one or more embodiments, the first controller is configured to generate the first burn-in board status map of the burn-in board according to tested results of the integrated circuit devices.

In one or more embodiments, the burn-in board management system further includes a burn-in board verification apparatus configured to test malfunctioned ones of the slots of the suspended burn-in board by mounting qualified-passed integrated circuit devices in the malfunctioned ones of the slots, and the burn-in board verification apparatus includes a second controller configured to generate a second burn-in board status map of the burn-in board.

In one or more embodiments, the burn-in board verification apparatus is communicably connected with the burn-in board status computer and configured to receive the first burn-in board status map to identify the malfunctioned ones of the slots of the suspended burn-in board.

In one or more embodiments, the burn-in board status computer is communicably connected with the second controller of the burn-in board verification apparatus to receive the second burn-in board status map to update the first burn-in board status map.

In one or more embodiments, the second controller is configured to generate the second burn-in board status map of the suspended burn-in board according to tested results of the qualified-passed integrated circuit devices.

In one or more embodiments, the burn-in board status computer includes a storage media to store the first burn-in board status map.

In one or more embodiments, the burn-in board status computer includes a processor configured to receive the second burn-in board status map to update the first burn-in board status map.

In one or more embodiments, the burn-in board status computer includes a processor configured to release the suspended burn-in board when the updated first burn-in board status map of the suspended burn-in board demonstrates that less than the threshold percentage of the slots of the burn-in board are determined to be malfunctioned.

In one or more embodiments, the first controller of the production burn-in apparatus is further configured to receive the updated first burn-in board status map of the released burn-in board from the burn-in board status computer to execute a test by using the released burn-in board.

In one or more embodiments, a burn-in board management system includes a burn-in board status computer and a burn-in board verification apparatus. The burn-in board status computer has a storage media to store a first burn-in board status map of a suspended burn-in board. The burn-in board verification apparatus is configured to test malfunctioned slots of the suspended burn-in board by mounting qualified-passed integrated circuit devices in the malfunctioned slots, and the burn-in board verification apparatus includes a controller configured to generate a second burn-in board status map of the suspended burn-in board.

In one or more embodiments, the burn-in board status computer is communicably connected with the controller of the burn-in board verification apparatus to receive the second burn-in board status map to update the first burn-in board status map.

In one or more embodiments, the burn-in board status computer includes a processor configured to receive the second burn-in board status map to update the first burn-in board status map.

In one or more embodiments, the burn-in board status computer includes a processor configured to release the suspended burn-in board when the updated first burn-in board status map of the suspended burn-in board demonstrates that less than a threshold percentage of the slots of the suspended burn-in board are determined to be malfunctioned.

In one or more embodiments, the controller is configured to generate the second burn-in board status map of the suspended burn-in board according to tested results of the qualified-passed integrated circuit devices.

In one or more embodiments, the burn-in board management system further includes a production burn-in apparatus communicably connected with the burn-in board status computer, and the production burn-in apparatus is configured to receive the updated first burn-in board status map of the released burn-in board and use the released burn-in board to execute a test.

In one or more embodiments, the burn-in board verification apparatus is communicably connected with the burn-in board status computer and configured to receive the first burn-in board status map to identify the malfunctioned slots of the suspended burn-in board.

In sum, the burn-in board management system disclosed herein provides an effective mechanism to manage huge amounts of burn-in boards and to reduce manual operation errors and costs on burn-in board management.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made toFIG.1, which illustrates a configuration of a burn-in board management system100according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The burn-in board management system100may include a production burn-in apparatus102, a burn-in board status computer106and/or a burn-in board verification apparatus104. The production burn-in apparatus102may include a heater and a cooler to control a testing environment and an electricity tester to execute tests with increased voltages and temperatures to semiconductor integrated circuit devices so as to sort out weaker semiconductor integrated circuit devices that fail during testing. The electricity tester of the production burn-in apparatus102is configured to execute burn-in tests to the semiconductor integrated circuit devices via burn-in boards, e.g., burn-in boards110a. The production burn-in apparatus102may include a controller102ato generate a testing data or result of the semiconductor integrated circuit devices after a burn-in test is executed. The burn-in board status computer106is communicably connected with the production burn-in apparatus102, e.g., the controller102a, to receive burn-in board data associated with the testing data or result of the semiconductor integrated circuit devices. Burn-in boards are also under increased voltages and temperatures along with the semiconductor integrated circuit devices during testing and may be damaged or malfunctioned in some portions. The burn-in board verification apparatus104is configured to reconfirm damaged or malfunctioned portions of the burn-in board, e.g., burn-in board110b, by a test similar to the burn-in tests, to decide whether or not to repair the burn-in board or release the burn-in board to the production burn-in apparatus102.

Reference is made toFIGS.1and2, andFIG.2illustrates a burn-in board100according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The burn-in board100may include a plurality of slots112on a board body, gold fingers116and a handle114that are located at two opposite ends of the board body. The gold fingers116are configured to engage corresponding electrical connectors of the production burn-in apparatus102or the burn-in board verification apparatus104to achieve electrical connection during burn-in testing. The handle114allows an operator, e.g., a human hand or a robot arm, to grab and thus pull out the burn-in board100from the corresponding connectors or insert the burn-in board100into the corresponding connectors of the production burn-in apparatus102or the burn-in board verification apparatus104. Each slot112is configured to receive or accommodate a semiconductor integrated circuit device150and has an electrical connector to engage a corresponding electrical connector of the semiconductor integrated circuit device150.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the semiconductor integrated circuit device150may be an integrated circuit device that is packaged after an assembling process. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the semiconductor integrated circuit device150may be a memory integrated circuit device that is packaged after an assembling process. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the semiconductor integrated circuit device150may be a double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory device. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the semiconductor integrated circuit device150may be a low power double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory device.

Reference is made toFIGS.1-5,FIG.3illustrates a burn-in board status map120according to some embodiments of the present disclosure,FIG.4illustrates another burn-in board status map120′ according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, andFIG.5illustrates still another burn-in board status map120″ according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

The burn-in board status map120is associated with the testing data or result generated by the controller102aof the production burn-in apparatus102after a burn-in test is executed. In particular, the controller102agenerates the burn-in board status map120of the burn-in board110aaccording to tested results of the integrated circuit devices. The burn-in board status map120includes status for a plurality of DUT (devices under test)120a. The DUTs120ain the burn-in board status map120should have one-on-one relationship to slots112of an associated burn-in board, e.g., the burn-in board110, such that a status of each slot112can be demonstrated. The “O” character labeled on DUTs120ain the burn-in board status map120represent a “normal” status of a corresponding slot112. The slots112with the “normal” status allow the semiconductor integrated circuit devices150to be mounted and the burn-in test can be executed. The “X” character labeled on DUTs120ain the burn-in board status map120represent a “lock” status of a corresponding slot112. The slots112with the “lock” status do not allow the semiconductor integrated circuit devices150to be mounted for the burn-in test. The “E” character labeled on DUTs120ain the burn-in board status map120represent a “abnormal” status of a corresponding slot112. The DUT120ais labeled with the “abnormal” status after the DUT120afails continuously more than a threshold number, e.g., three times, in series of burn-in tests. Similarly, the slot112with the “abnormal” status does not allow the semiconductor integrated circuit device150to be mounted for further burn-in tests after its corresponding DUT120ain the burn-in board status map120achieve the threshold numbers of continuously failing. The controller102aof the production burn-in apparatus102is further configured to suspend the burn-in board when the burn-in board status map of the burn-in board demonstrates that more than a threshold percentage of the slots of the burn-in board are determined to be malfunctioned. The slots112of the burn-in board110with the “abnormal” status or the “lock” status are determined to be malfunctioned. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the controller102aof the production burn-in apparatus102will suspend a burn-in board when more than 15 percentages of the slots of the burn-in board are determined to be malfunctioned. A suspended burn-in board is not allowed to insert into the production burn-in apparatus102or mount semiconductor integrated circuit devices150thereon for further burn-in tests.

The burn-in board status computer106is communicably connected with the controller102aof the production burn-in apparatus102and configured to receive the burn-in board status map120generated by the controller102aof the production burn-in apparatus102. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the burn-in board status computer106has a storage media106bto store the burn-in board status map120. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the storage media106bcan be a read only memory (ROM) or a non-volatile storage device (such as flash memory or a hard disk), but not being limited thereto.

The burn-in board status map120′ is associated with the testing data or result generated by the controller104aof the burn-in board verification apparatus104after a test is executed on the malfunctioned ones of the slots112of the suspended burn-in board, e.g., the burn-in board110b. That is, the slots112of the burn-in board110awith the “abnormal” status or the “lock” status needs to be tested by the burn-in board verification apparatus104, and no test is executed on other slots112of the burn-in board110awith the “normal” status. Before the test is executed, the burn-in board verification apparatus104is communicably connected with the burn-in board status computer106to receive the burn-in board status map120such that the malfunctioned ones of the slots112of the suspended burn-in board can be identified. The malfunctioned ones of the slots112of the suspended burn-in board are mounted with qualified-passed integrated circuit devices when the test is executed on the burn-in board verification apparatus104. Since the qualified-passed integrated circuit devices are tested-passed devices, the tested results of the qualified-passed integrated circuit devices directly demonstrate the status of the malfunctioned ones of the slots112of the suspended burn-in board. The controller104agenerates the burn-in board status map120′ of the burn-in board110baccording to tested results of the qualified-passed integrated circuit devices mounted in the malfunctioned ones of the slots112of the suspended burn-in board. The burn-in board status map120′ includes DUT status. The DUTs120bin the burn-in board status map120should have one-on-one relationship to slots112of an associated burn-in board, e.g., the burn-in board110, such that a status of each slot112can be demonstrated. Similarly, the “O” character labeled on DUTs120bin the burn-in board status map120′ represents a “normal” status of a corresponding slot112. The “X” character labeled on DUTs120bin the burn-in board status map120represents a “lock” status of a corresponding slot112. The slot112with the “lock” status does not allow the semiconductor integrated circuit device150to be mounted for the burn-in test. No “E” character is labeled on DUTs120bin the burn-in board status map120′.

The burn-in board status computer106is communicably connected with the controller104aof the burn-in board verification apparatus104and configured to receive the burn-in board status map120′ generated by the controller104aof the burn-in board verification apparatus104. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the burn-in board status computer106includes a processor106aconfigured to receive the burn-in board status map120′ to update the burn-in board status map120. For example, after the test is executed on the suspended burn-in board, the burn-in board status map120′ demonstrates that two “abnormal” status (e.g., indicated by two arrows) should be released and labeled with “O” character, and other “abnormal” status are maintained and labeled with “X” character. That is, the updated burn-in board status map120′ is the burn-in board status map120″ inFIG.5. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the burn-in board status computer106includes the processor106aconfigured to release the suspended burn-in board when the updated burn-in board status map, e.g.,120″, of the suspended burn-in board demonstrates that less than a threshold percentage of the slots112of the burn-in board are determined to be malfunctioned. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor106aof the burn-in board status computer106will release a suspended burn-in board when less than15percentages of the slots of the burn-in board are determined to be malfunctioned. A released burn-in board is allowed to insert into the production burn-in apparatus102and mount semiconductor integrated circuit devices150thereon for further burn-in tests.

The production burn-in apparatus102is communicably connected with the burn-in board status computer106and configured to receive the updated burn-in board status map120″ of the released burn-in board110aand use the released burn-in board110ato execute a burn-in test.

Reference is made toFIGS.1-6, andFIG.6illustrates a flowchart400of a burn-in board management system100according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The flowchart400includes an operation402in which a qualification or verification process for a burn-in board (BIB) is started, for example, in the burn-in board verification apparatus104. In an operation404, a burn-in board ID is input by, for example, scanning a barcode of a suspended burn-in board110b. In an operation406, the burn-in board verification apparatus104is communicably connected with the burn-in board status computer106to receive the burn-in board status map120such that the malfunctioned ones of the slots112of the suspended burn-in board can be identified. And then a test is executed on the malfunctioned ones of the slots112of the suspended burn-in board, e.g., the burn-in board110b. The controller104aof the burn-in board verification apparatus104generates the burn-in board status map120′ of the burn-in board110baccording to tested results of the qualified-passed integrated circuit devices mounted in the malfunctioned ones of the slots112of the suspended burn-in board110b. In an operation408, when the malfunctioned ones of the slots112is tested passed or qualified passed, the corresponding DUT the burn-in board status map120′ will be labeled with the “O” character. In an operation410, when the malfunctioned ones of the slots112is tested failed or qualified failed, the corresponding DUT the burn-in board status map120′ will be labeled with the “X” character. In an operation412, the burn-in board status computer106receives the burn-in board status map120′ to update the burn-in board status map120to obtain the updated burn-in board status map120″. In an operation418, the burn-in board status computer106will release the suspended burn-in board when the updated burn-in board status map120″ of the suspended burn-in board demonstrates that less than a threshold percentage, e.g., 15%, of the slots112of the suspended burn-in board are determined to be malfunctioned. In an operation414, the burn-in board status computer106will send the suspended burn-in board for repairing when the updated burn-in board status map120″ of the suspended burn-in board demonstrates that more than a threshold percentage, e.g., 15%, of the slots112of the burn-in board are determined to be malfunctioned. In an operation416, a requalification process will be backed to the operation402after the suspended burn-in board is repaired.

In sum, the burn-in board management system disclosed herein provides an effective mechanism to manage huge amounts of burn-in boards and to reduce manual operation errors and costs on burn-in board management.