Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to the field of semiconductor devices, and more particularly to integrated circuits used for precision measurements in automatic test equipment. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As part of the manufacturing process, semiconductor devices are subjected to various tests in order to identify faults. This testing can occur at multiple points in the manufacturing process, including testing done before packaging and testing done after packaging. Manufacturer testing of semiconductors is often performed using equipment referred to as automatic test equipment, or ATE. An ATE system can be used in a wide variety of applications, including the identification of defective semiconductors and the sampling of parts for quality control. 
     Automatic test equipment further includes specialized semiconductor devices known as precision measurement units, or PMUs, that are used to force a signal to a particular current or voltage, and/or to measure the voltage or current on a given signal. An example of a per-pin PMU device is the Edge4707 part manufactured by Semtech Corporation. This part is a four channel device in which each channel can be independently configured to force voltage or current and to sense voltage or current. ATE systems with a large number of individually controllable pins can be constructed using multiple PMUs and the PMUs can have multiple ranges of operation. In the case of the Edge4707, there are four current ranges available in the force current mode, with each being selectable using an input selection control and external resistors. Specifically, a range of ±2 μA, ±20 μA, ±200 μA or ±2 mA can be selected using a two-bit control input, and the range is enabled through the use of four external resistors, nominally 1 M, 100K, 10K and 1K ohms, respectively. In the force voltage mode, an output voltage of −2V through +13V can be selected. 
     A drawback of conventional PMUs is that when the output pin is disconnected from the device under test, there no longer exists a feedback path from the output amplifier to the pin and back to the input of the amplifier. This causes the output amplifier to drive the output to the maximum value possible, i.e., either maximum positive or maximum negative depending on noise and other circuit conditions. When the output pin is reconnected to a device under test, a momentary voltage or current spike would be present on the output pin that could damage the device under test. One way to avoid the current spike is to power down the entire PMU between each use of the part. But, this adds time to the semiconductor test procedure and additional complexity to the overall design of the ATE. 
     It would therefore be desirable to provide a high-impedance mode for the output pin of a PMU, so that when a device is not being tested, the output would be in a disconnected state. Such a high-impedance mode would be utilized in ATE between the testing of devices. This would prevent the undesirable current spikes from occurring and avoid the need to power off the entire chip between operations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a high-impedance mode for an output of a precision measurement unit (PMU). The PMU includes an output amplifier that provides a forcing voltage or current to a device under test. When the high-impedance mode is activated, the output amplifier is decoupled from an output terminal of the PMU and the output amplifier is disabled. This prevents the voltage on the output terminal from rising in an uncontrolled manner, and prevents current spikes from the output terminal when connected to a device under test. The high-impedance mode is deactivated to permit connection of the PMU to another device under test by re-coupling the output amplifier to the output terminal and enabling operation of the output amplifier. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the output of the output amplifier is tied to ground during the time that the output is in the high-impedance mode. When the output is re-connected, the output amplifier is no longer tied to ground. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, an internal feedback path is established during the time that the output is in the high-impedance mode. When the output is re-connected, the internal feedback path is disconnected. 
     A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus for providing a high impedance mode for an output of a precision measurement unit will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings, which will first be described briefly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art precision measurement unit (PMU). 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a PMU in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a PMU in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is directed to a method and system for providing a high-impedance mode in a precision measurement unit that is free of glitches on the output pin and that does not require powering down the device between applications to a device under test. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art precision measurement unit (PMU)  100 , including an output amplifier  110  having two inputs and a dual-rail output. The positive (+) input of output amplifier  110  is coupled to external pin  105  through series resistor  116 , and the negative (−) input is coupled to a pole of a switch  150  through series resistor  118 . The two outputs of output amplifier  110  are coupled to the gate of pull-up transistor  112  and to the gate of pull-down transistor  114 , respectively. The source of pull-up transistor  112  is coupled to a voltage source, the source of pull-down transistor  114  is coupled to ground, and the drains of transistors  112 ,  114  are coupled together to define an output  120 . An external resistor (R ext )  130  is coupled to output  120  and to an output pin labeled “FORCE.” The switch  150  includes two contacts labeled “Force Voltage” and “Force Current,” respectively. The voltage across external resistor  130  is detected by current sense amplifier  140 , which provides an output  145  that is coupled to the Force Current contact of switch  150 . 
     The PMU  100  includes an output pin labeled “FORCE” and an input pin labeled “SENSE”. As shown in FIG. 1, the FORCE output pin and the SENSE input pin are coupled together externally. The FORCE output pin is connected to the external resistor  130 . The SENSE input pin is connected to the Force Voltage contact of switch  150 . It is intended that the FORCE and SENSE pins be connected to corresponding pins of a device under test, and the PMU  100  can be placed in either a “Force Voltage” mode or a “Force Current” mode through the control of switch  150 . In the Force Voltage mode, the external signal on the FORCE and SENSE pins is coupled through switch  150  to the negative input of the output amplifier  110 . The positive input of output amplifier  110  is connected to external pin  105 , which receives an input defining the desired voltage/current of the output. Particularly, the voltage provided on external pin  105  defines the desired voltage set point. In this mode of operation, the feedback path that includes output amplifier  110 , pull-up and pull down transistors  112 ,  114 , external resistor  130 , the FORCE pin, the SENSE pin, and switch  150  forms a feedback loop that regulates the voltage on the FORCE pin. Output amplifier  110  supplies a variable amount of current, such that the voltage on the FORCE pin matches the voltage on the set point input pin  105 . 
     In the Force Current mode, switch  150  is placed in the “Force Current” position, causing the output of current sensing amplifier  140  to be coupled to the negative input of output amplifier  110 . Depending on the value of external resistor Rext  130  and the voltage supplied to external pin  105  connected to the positive input of output amplifier  110 , the desired current to be supplied to the device under test is specified. Current sensing amplifier  140  provides a differential output that corresponds to the voltage drop across external resistor Rext  130 . For example, if Rext is 1 M ohms and the voltage on pin  105  is 1V, then output amplifier  110  will attempt to supply 1 μA of current to the FORCE pin so that the voltage drop across Rext is 1V, making the output of current sensing amplifier  140  equal to 1V and the voltage applied to the negative input terminal of output amplifier  110  equal to 1V. In the force current mode of operation, the path that includes output amplifier  110 , pull-up and pull-down transistors  112 ,  114 , external resistor  130 , current sensing amplifier  140 , and switch  150  forms a feedback loop in which the desired current applied to the FORCE output pin is maintained. 
     In each of the Force Voltage and Force Current modes, if the output amplifier  110  is decoupled from the FORCE output pin, the desired voltage or current cannot be maintained. In the Force Voltage mode, the feedback path itself is broken. In the Force Current mode, the current through external resistor  130  drops to zero. In either case, the output amplifier  110  would rapidly force its output to either the maximum positive or maximum negative voltage, depending on the noise and other dynamic circuit conditions. In this case, the voltage at output  120  remains at a high positive or high negative potential until the FORCE output pin is coupled again to the SENSE input pin through an external device under test. When such a re-coupling is made, there would appear a voltage or current spike on the FORCE output pin that would last until the feedback path is re-established and the output amplifier returns to its steady state level. The spike that would occur in this condition could cause damage to the device under test. An alternative would be to power down the entire PMU  100  in between applications to a device under test. In that case, no voltage or current spike would occur, but powering down the PMU  100  involves additional time and complexity. In typical ATE environments, the time to test a device is a critical parameter and thus decreasing the time necessary for testing is important. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a PMU  200  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, which solves the problem of having a voltage or current spike on the FORCE output pin without requiring powering down of the entire device. The PMU  200  includes an output amplifier  210  that has two inputs and a dual-rail output. The positive (+) input of output amplifier  210  is coupled to external pin  205  through series resistor  216 , and the negative (−) input is coupled to a pole of a switch  250  through a series resistor  218 . The two outputs of output amplifier  210  are coupled to the gate of a pull-up transistor  212  and to the gate of a pull-down transistor  214 , respectively, as in the prior art construction of FIG.  1 . The drains of pull-up transistor  212  and pull-down transistor  214  are commonly coupled to output  220 . The operation of output amplifier  210 , external resistor Rext  230 , current sensing amplifier  240  and switch  250  is substantially similar to the analogous devices  110 ,  130 ,  140  and  150  discussed above. 
     PMU unit  200  additionally includes switch  270  and transistors  275 ,  280  and  285 . The negative output of output amplifier  210  is also coupled to the drain of a second pull-up transistor  280  and the positive output of amplifier  210  is also coupled to the drain of a second pull-down transistor  275 . The output  220  is also coupled to the source of a third pull-down transistor  285  and to a first side of the switch  270 . The second side of switch  270  is coupled to an external resistor  230 , which is also coupled to an output pin labeled “FORCE.” The two ends of external resistor  230  are also coupled individually to two inputs of a current sense amplifier  240 , the output  245  of which is coupled to a contact of switch  250  labeled “Force Current”. An input pin labeled “SENSE” is coupled to a contact of switch  250  labeled “Force Voltage”. The control of switch  270  is coupled to a logic signal labeled “Hiz_b”, such that the switch  270  is conducting when Hiz_b is high. Hiz_b is also provided to the gate of pull-up transistor  280 . A logic signal labeled “Hiz” is provided to the gates of pull-down transistors  275 ,  285 . 
     Switch  270  is used to decouple output amplifier  210  from the FORCE output pin during the high-impedance mode. When the signal Hiz is low and Hiz_b is high, the output amplifier  210  is enabled and the PMU  200  operates as discussed above for PMU  100 . Conversely, when the signal Hiz is high and Hiz_b is low, the high-impedance mode is active in which transistors  275 ,  280  and  285  disable the output amplifier  210  and force its output to ground. 
     PMU  200  enters the high impedance mode by first decoupling output amplifier  210  from the FORCE output pin. This is accomplished by forcing s which opens switch  270 . Next, activating transistors  275 ,  280  and  285  disables output amplifier  210 . When transistor  275  turns on, the gate of transistor  214  will pull to ground to shut off transistor  214 . Likewise, when transistor  280  turns on, the gate of transistor  212  will pull to the voltage source to shut off transistor  212 . This effectively disables operation of the output amplifier  210 . When transistor  285  turns on, the output  220  is pulled to ground. In this condition, the FORCE output pin is in a high impedance state and the PMU will not source any current to that pin. Pull-down transistor  285  is optional and may be excluded in an alternative embodiment. When the high impedance mode is deactivated, output amplifier  210  is first coupled to the output pin by closing switch  270 . Output amplifier  210  is then enabled by turning off transistors  275 ,  280  and  285 . This allows the feedback path to be reestablished and the specified voltage or current to be provided. Since the output  220  is grounded when switch  270  is turned on, there will be no voltage or current spike on the FORCE output pin. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a PMU  300  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. PMU  300  includes an output amplifier  310  having two inputs and a dual-rail output. The positive (+) input of output amplifier  310  is coupled to external pin  305  through series resistor  316 , and the negative (−) input is coupled to a pole of switch  350  through series resistor  318 . The two outputs of output amplifier  310  are coupled to the gate of a pull-up transistor  312  and to the gate of a pull-down transistor  314 , respectively. The drains of pull-up transistor  312  and pull-down transistor  314  are commonly coupled to output  320 . Also coupled to output  320  is a first side of a switch  370 . The second side of switch  370  is coupled to an external resistor  330 , which is also coupled to an output pin labeled “FORCE.” The two ends of external resistor  330  are also coupled individually to two inputs of a current sense amplifier  340 , the output of which is coupled to a contact of switch  350  labeled “FORCE CURRENT”. An input pin labeled “SENSE” is coupled to a contact of switch  350  labeled “FORCE VOLTAGE”. The control of switch  370  is coupled to a logic signal labeled “Hiz_b” that is low when high-impedance mode is active. The control of switch  380  coupled to a logic signal labeled “Hiz” that is high when high-impedance mode is active. Switch  350  further includes a third contact labeled “Hiz” that is connected to the output  320 . 
     The operation of PMU  300  with respect to output amplifier  310 , high impedance switch  370 , external resistor Rext  330 , current sense amplifier  340  and switch  350  is substantially the same as the analogous devices  210 ,  270 ,  230 ,  240  and  250  discussed above. The switch  350  connects the output of output amplifier  310  back to the negative input (−) of the output amplifier. PMU  300  enters the high impedance mode by first decoupling output amplifier  310  from the FORCE output pin. This is accomplished by forcing signal Hiz_b low which opens switch  370 . Activating an internal feedback path by connecting switch  350  to the Hiz contact limits the gain of the output amplifier  310  and results in the formation of a voltage follower circuit that prevents output amplifier  310  from reaching high positive or negative voltages. In fact, the voltage at output  320  will be driven to the same potential as the voltage at input pin  305 . When the high impedance mode is deactivated, the output amplifier is first coupled to the FORCE output pin by forcing signal Hiz_b high, closing switch  370 . When switch  350  is reconfigured, the voltage follower mode is discontinued, the feedback path is reestablished and output amplifier  310  will again be driven to its appropriate steady state condition. 
     Having thus described a preferred embodiment of method and system for providing a high-impedance mode in a precision measurement unit, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the described invention have been achieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The invention is further defined by the following claims.

Technology Category: 3