Abstract:
A probing system for integrated circuit device, which transmits testing data/signal between an automatic test equipment (ATE) and an integrated circuit device, is disclosed. The probing system comprising a test head having a first transceiving module; a test station having a test unit couple to the test head to perform test operation; a communication module having a second transceiving module configured to exchange data with the first transceiving module; an integrated circuit device having at least one core circuit being tested; and at least one test module having a self-test circuit couple to the core circuit and the communication module for performing the core circuit self-testing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part (CIP) Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/114,768 filed on May 3, 2008, which is a CIP Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/203,380 filed on Aug. 12, 2005. All of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a probing system for integrated circuit device. 
     2. Background 
     Generally speaking, after an integrated circuit device is manufactured, a testing process is performed to check the electrical properties of the integrated circuit device. The integrated circuit devices that meet the specifications of the electrical properties are selected for the subsequent process, while others that do not meet the specifications are discarded to cut the cost. 
     The conventional automatic test equipment (ATE) uses probe tips on a probe card to contact signal pads on a device under test (DUT) so as to form a path for transmitting the probing signal from the ATE to the DUT and transmitting the tested electrical parameters from the DUT to the ATE. However, the operation speed of the integrated circuit device such as the transistor increases continuously as semiconductor fabrication technology improves. The conventional technique uses the probe tip to mechanically probe the DUT and therefore its overall time accuracy (OTA) cannot catch up with the DUT with a highly improved operation speed. Consequently, the conventional ATE obviously cannot be used to probe the electrical property of the high-speed integrated circuit device in the future. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a probing system for integrated circuit device, wherein testing data such as the probing signal and the tested electrical parameter etc. are delivered between a testing machine including a first transceiving module and an integrated circuit device being tested by the testing machine. 
     The integrated circuit device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a core circuit, a self-test circuit electrically connected to the core circuit, a controller configured to control the operation of the self-test circuit, and a second transceiving module configured to exchange testing data with the first transceiving module. 
     The probing system for integrated circuit device according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises a test head having a first transceiving module and a test station having a test unit couple to the test head to perform test operation. The probing system further comprise a communication module having a second transceiving module configured to exchange data with the first transceiving module in a wireless manner, an integrated circuit device having a core circuit being tested; and a test module having a self-test circuit coupled to the core circuit and the communication module for performing the core circuit self-testing. 
     The probing system for integrated circuit device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention comprises a test head, a test station and an integrated circuit device. The test head has a first transceiving module. The test station has a test unit coupled to the test head to perform test operation. The integrated circuit device comprises a communication module, a plurality of core circuits being tested and at least one test module, wherein each core circuit is manufactured in one die. The communication module has a second transceiving module configured to exchange data with the first transceiving module. The communication module, the plurality of core circuits and the test module are packaged in one package. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a probing system for integrated circuit device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a probing system for integrated circuit device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a probing system for integrated circuit device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a probing system for integrated circuit device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a probing system for integrated circuit device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a probing system for integrated circuit device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a probing system for integrated circuit device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate signal transmissions of a probing system for integrated circuit device according to embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a probing system for integrated circuit device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a probing system for integrated circuit device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a probing system for integrated circuit device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a probing system for integrated circuit device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a probing system  10  for integrated circuit device according to embodiments of the present invention, in which testing data such as the probing signal and the tested electrical parameter is transmitted between a testing machine  20  and an integrated circuit device  30  in a wireless manner. The testing machine  20  comprises a first transceiving module  22 , a physical layer module  24  electrically connected to the first transceiving module  22 , a testing unit  26  electrically coupled to the physical layer module  24 , and a diagnosis unit  28  electrically coupled to the physical layer module  24 . The integrated circuit device  30  such as a system on chip (SOC) comprises a core circuit  32 , a built-in self-test (BIST) circuit  34  electrically connected to the core circuit  32 , a controller  36  configured to control the operation of the BIST circuit  34 , and a second transceiving module  38  configured to exchange testing data with the first transceiving module  22 . The first transceiving module  22  and the second transceiving module  32  each include a transceiver and an antenna. 
     The core circuit  32  may be a memory circuit, or a logic circuit, or an analog circuit or may be any combination of two of the above circuits. The core circuit  32  may also include a memory circuit, a logic circuit and an analog circuit. In addition, the inventor of the present application filed two Taiwanese patent applications, No. 088103352 and No. 090107845, disclosing the design technique of the BIST circuit  34 . Preferably, the integrated circuit device  30  may further comprises a clock generator  40  electrically connected to the second transceiving module  38  and a power regulator  42  electrically connected to the second transceiving module  38 , wherein the testing machine  20  transmits a radio frequency signal by the first transceiving module  22  and the second transceiving module  32  receives the radio frequency signal to drive the power regulator  42  to generate the operation power for the integrated circuit device  30 . Further, the integrated circuit device  30  may includes a tag register  44  for storing the identification of the integrated circuit device  30 . 
     During the electrical testing process, the testing machine  20  may transmit a radio frequency signal by the first transceiving module  22  and the second transceiving module  32  receives the radio frequency signal to drive the power regulator  42  to generate the operation power for the integrated circuit device  30 . The testing unit  26  of the testing machine  20  may also set an identification to integrated circuit device  30  by the first transceiving module  22 , and integrated circuit device  30  stores its own identification in the tag register  44 . During the testing process, the testing unit  26  performs test operation by issuing an activation instruction transmitting to the second transceiving module  32  to activate the BIST circuit  34  to perform the electrical testing of the core circuit  32 . 
     In one of the embodiment, may have a diagnosis unit  28  receives testing data transmitted from integrated circuit device  30  after the electrical testing is completed, and checks if the integrated circuit device  30  meets the specifications of the electrical properties and analyzes the failure cause of failed device. The physical layer module  24  control data signals transmit and receive operation. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a probing system  80  for integrated circuit device according to embodiments of the present invention, which is applied to the electrical testing of a plurality of integrated circuit device  30  on a wafer. Particularly, the probing system  80  is applied to the electrical testing of the integrated circuit device  30  at a wafer level. In addition, the wafer  90  may include a power supply line  92  surrounding the integrated circuit device  30 , and the integrated circuit device  30  can optionally acquire the operation power from the power supply line  92  rather than from the power generated by the power regulator  42  after receiving the radio frequency signal. Particularly, the power supply line  92  is positioned on the cutting lines of the wafer  90 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a probing system  70  for integrated circuit device according to embodiments of the present invention, which is applied to the final testing of an encapsulated die  72 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the wafer  90  is cut into a plurality of integrated circuit device  30 , and those which meet electrical properties specifications are selected to perform the subsequent packaging process, while others that do not meet the specifications are discarded. The testing unit  26  transmits an activation instruction to the second transceiving module  32  to activate the BIST circuit  34  to perform the electrical testing of the core circuit  32 , and the diagnosis unit  28  then accumulates testing data transmitted from each integrated circuit device  30  after the electrical testing is completed and checks if the integrated circuit device  30  meets the specifications of the electrical properties and analyzes the failure cause of any failed device. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a probing system  60  for integrated circuit device according to embodiments of the present invention. The testing machine  20  further comprises a conveying device  62  electrically connected to a power supply. The integrated circuit device  30  is positioned on circuit board  50 , which is electrically connected to the power supply via the conveying device  62 , and the integrated circuit device  30  acquires the operation power from the circuit board  50 , i.e., from the conveying device  62  via the circuit board  50 . The conveying device  62  can convey the circuit board  50  with the integrated circuit device  30  to a predetermined position  64 , where the testing unit  26  transmits an activation instruction to the second transceiving module  32  to activate the BIST circuit  34  to perform the electrical testing of the core circuit  32 . Subsequently, the diagnosis unit  28  can accumulate testing data transmitted from each integrated circuit device  30  after the electrical testing is completed and checks if the integrated circuit device  30  meets the specifications of the electrical properties and analyze the failure cause of any failed device. 
     The probing system  10  shown in  FIG. 1  could be modified by changing arrangements of the internal modules or devices, so as to increase the flexibility for various applications. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a probing system  100  for integrated circuit device according to embodiments of the present invention. The probing system  100  comprises a test machine  110  and an integrated circuit device  120  under test (DUT). The test machine  110  comprises a test head  111 , a test station  112  and a loader  113 . The test station  112  comprises a diagnosis unit  132  and a testing unit  134 , wherein the diagnosis unit  132  is an optional unit to provide diagnosis function. The test head  111  comprises a physical layer module  115  and a first transceiving module  114  coupled to the physical layer module  115 . The physical layer module  115  is coupled to the testing unit  134 , and the diagnosis unit  132  is coupled to the testing unit  134 . The loader  113  is configured to carry the DUT  120 , and comprises a communication module  116  and a power regulator  117 . The communication module  116  comprises a second transceiving module  130 , a communication controller  118 . 
     The communication controller  118  is electrically coupled to the second transceiving module  130 , and the clock generator  119  is electrically coupled to the second transceiving module  130 , the communication controller  118  and the DUT  120  for providing clock signals. The DUT  120  such as a system on chip (SOC) comprises a core circuit  121  and a test module  122 . In one embodiment, the test module  122  comprises a memory BIST (built-in self-test circuit)  123 , a logic BIST  124 , an analog BIST  125  and a test controller  126 . In another embodiment, the test module  122  may comprise a memory BIST (built-in self-test circuit)  123 , or a logic BIST  124 , or an analog BIST  125  only or it may comprise any combination of two of the above BIST circuits connecting to the test controller  126 . 
     The DUT  120  may be positioned on the loader  113 , and acquires the operation power from the loader  113 . Moreover, the DUT  120  may be transported to a predetermined position by the conveying device. In one embodiment, the core circuit  121  may comprises a memory circuit, a logic circuit and an analog circuit. The core circuit  121  is coupled to the memory BIST  123 , the logic BIST  124  and the analog BIST  125 , and the operations of these BISTs are controlled by the test controller  126 . In another embodiment, the core circuit  121  may be a memory circuit, or a logic circuit or an analog circuit only, or it may also be any combination of two of the above circuits. The core circuit  121  then is coupled to the corresponding memory BIST  123 , the logic BIST  124  or the analog BIST  125  Testing data such as the probing signal and the tested electrical parameter is transmitted between the test head  111  and the loader  113  through the first transceiving module  114  and the second transceiving module  130  in a wireless manner. In other words, the first transceiving module  114  and the second transceiving module  130  exchange testing data with each other. The physical layer module  115  and communication controller  118  controls the transmitting and receiving of data signals respectively. 
     In an embodiment, the first transceiving module  114  and the second transceiving module  130  each include a transceiver and an antenna. The power regulator  117  is electrically connected to the communication module  116  and the DUT  120 . The testing machine  110  transmits a radio frequency signal by the first transceiving module  114 , and the second transceiving module  130  receives the radio frequency signal to drive the power regulator  117  to generate the operation power for the DUT  120 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a probing system  140  for integrated circuit device according to embodiments of the present invention. In comparison with the system  100  of  FIG. 5 , the test module  122  is changed to be included in a loader  113 ′ of a test machine  110 ′. Consequently, a DUT  120 ′ comprises the core circuit  121  only, and is easy to be manufactured. The power regulator is electrically connected to the communication module  116 , the test module  122  and the DUT  120 ′. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a probing system  150  for integrated circuit device according to embodiments of the present invention. In comparison with  FIG. 5 , the communication module  116  is changed to be included in a DUT  120 ″. Consequently, the DUT  120 ″ comprises the core circuit  121 , the test module  122  and the communication module  116 , and a loader  113 ″ of a test machine  110 ″ contains the power regulator  117  only. The power regulator  117  is electrically connected to the DUT  120 ″. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates signal transmission for a probing system capable of testing a plurality of DUTs in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The test machine comprises a test station and a plurality of test heads and each test head is corresponding to a communication module. The testing data such as the probing signal and the tested electrical parameter is transmitted between the test heads and the communication modules in wireless manner. That is, the communication is conducted by a one-to-one manner. Each communication module is electrically coupled to a test module that is connected to a core circuit. Because there are many test heads, the testing efficiency can be improved significantly. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates signal transmission for a probing system capable of testing a plurality of DUTs in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The test machine comprises a test station and a test head, and the test head is corresponding to a plurality of communication modules. Testing data such as the probing signal and the tested electrical parameter is transmitted between the test head and a plurality of communication modules in wireless manner. That is, the communication is conducted by a one-to-multiple manner. Each communication module is electrically coupled to a test module that is electrically connected to a core circuit. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a probing system  1000  for integrated circuit device according to embodiments of the present invention. The probing system  1000  comprises a tester  1010  and an integrated circuit device  1020  under test (DUT). The tester  1010  comprises a test head  1011 , a test station  1012  and a loader  1013 . The test station  1012  comprises a diagnosis unit  1032  and a testing unit  1034 , wherein the diagnosis unit  1032  is an optional unit to provide diagnosis function. The test head  1011  comprises a physical layer module  1015  and a first transceiving module  1014  coupled to the physical layer module  1015 . The physical layer module  1015  is coupled to the testing unit  1034 , and the diagnosis unit  1032  is coupled to the testing unit  1034 . The loader  1013  is configured to carry the DUT  1020 , and comprises a power regulator  1017 . 
     The DUT  1020 , utilizing a 3D packaging technique, comprises a communication module  1016 , a test module  1022  and a plurality of core circuits  1021 , wherein the communication module  1016 , the test module  1022  and the plurality of core circuit  1021  are respectively manufactured in a die. The communication module  1016  comprises a communication controller  1018 , a clock generator  1019  and a second transceiving module  1030 . The communication controller  1018  is electrically coupled to the second transceiving module  1030 , and the clock generator  1019  is electrically coupled to the second transceiving module  1030 , the communication controller  1018  and the DUT  1020  for providing clock signals. In one embodiment, the test module  1022  comprises a memory BIST (built-in self-test circuit)  1023 , a logic BIST  1024 , an analog BIST  1025  and a test controller  1026 . In another embodiment, the test module  1022  may comprise a memory BIST (built-in self-test circuit)  1023 , or a logic BIST  1024 , or an analog BIST  1025  only or it may comprise any combination of two of the above BIST circuits connected to the test controller  1026 . 
     The DUT  1020  may be positioned on the loader  1013 , and acquires the operation power from the loader  1013 . Moreover, the DUT  1020  may be transported to a predetermined position by the conveying device. In one embodiment, the plurality of core circuits  1021  may comprise memory circuits, logic circuits and analog circuits. The plurality of core circuits  1021  are coupled to the memory BIST  1023 , the logic BIST  1024  and the analog BIST  1025 , and the test controller  1026  controls the operations of these BISTs. In another embodiment, the plurality of core circuits  1021  may be memory circuits, or logic circuits or analog circuits only, or it may also be combination of any two of the above circuits. The plurality of core circuits  1021  are coupled to the corresponding memory BIST  1023 , the logic BIST  1024  or the analog BIST  1025 . Testing data such as the probing signal and the tested electrical parameter is transmitted between the test head  1011  and the DUT  1020  through the first transceiving module  1014  and the second transceiving module  1030  in a wireless manner. In other words, the first transceiving module  1014  and the second transceiving module  1030  exchange testing data with each other. The physical layer module  1015  and the communication controller  1018  control the transmitting and receiving of data signals, respectively. 
     In an embodiment, both the first transceiving module  1014  and the second transceiving module  1030  include a transceiver and an antenna. The power regulator  1017  is electrically connected to the communication module  1016  and the DUT  1020 . The tester  1010  transmits a radio frequency signal by the first transceiving module  1014 , and the second transceiving module  1030  receives the radio frequency signal to drive the power regulator  1017  to generate the operation power for the DUT  1020 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a probing system  1100  for integrated circuit device according to embodiments of the present invention. The probing system  1100  comprises a tester  1110  and a DUT  1120 . Comparing with the probing system  1000  shown in  FIG. 10 , the DUT  1120 , utilizing a 3D packaging technique, comprises a communication module  1016 , a plurality of test modules  1022  and a plurality of core circuits  1021 , wherein each core circuit  1021  is manufactured along with a test module  1022  in one die, and the communication module  1016  is manufactured in another die different from the dies of the plurality of core circuits  1021 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a probing system  1200  for integrated circuit device according to embodiments of the present invention. The probing system  1200  comprises a tester  1210  and a DUT  1220 . Comparing with the probing system  1000  shown in  FIG. 10 , the DUT  1220 , utilizing a 3D packaging technique, comprises a communication module  1016 , a test module  1022  and a plurality of core circuits  1021 , wherein each core circuit  1021  is manufactured in one die, and the communication module  1016  is manufactured along with the test module  1022  in another die different from the dies of the plurality of core circuits  1021 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a probing system  1300  for integrated circuit device according to embodiments of the present invention. The probing system  1300  comprises a tester  1310  and a DUT  1320 . Comparing with the probing system  1000  shown in  FIG. 10 , the first and the second transceiving module  1314  and  1330  communicated with each other in a different manner other than wireless technique. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and the second transceiving module  1314  and  1330  utilize a wired communication technique. In another embodiment of the present invention, the first and the second transceiving module  1314  and  1330  utilize an optical communication technique. 
     The prior art uses a mechanical element, i.e., the tip, to transmit testing data, and therefore the overall time accuracy cannot catch up with the increasing operation speed of integrated circuit device. Conversely, the present probing system includes a transceiving module in the integrated circuit device to transmit testing data in a different manner; therefore the overall time accuracy is substantially the same as that of the integrated circuit device. In other words, the overall time accuracy of the present invention is not restricted by mechanical elements, and therefore can be applied to the electrical testing of high-speed integrated circuit device. Particularly, the present probing system for integrated circuit devices may also diagnose the failure causes of a failed device in addition to performing electrical testing. In addition, the application of the present probing system is not limited to integrated circuit devices with only one die, but rather suited for integrated circuit devices manufactured in 3D packaging technique. 
     The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative only. Numerous alternative embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the following claims.