IP Library Granted Patent US 7,511,506
Granted Patent B2
US 7,511,506 · App. 11/649,225 · Granted Mar 31, 2009

Semiconductor testing system and testing method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,511,506
App. No.
11/649,225
Granted
Mar 31, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to an embodiment of the invention, a semiconductor testing system for testing a semiconductor device including an output buffer switching between a first mode for outputting data based on an input test signal and a second mode for setting an output terminal to a high impedance state, includes: a test signal generator supplying the test signal to the semiconductor device; an external tester setting an output terminal of the output buffer to a predetermined potential if the output buffer is set to the second mode; and a detecting circuit measuring a potential of an output of the output buffer, the detecting circuit detecting a stuck-at fault in the semiconductor device based on the data if the test signal designates the first mode and detecting a stuck-at fault in the semiconductor device based on the predetermined potential if the test signal designates the second mode.

Claims (11)

1. A semiconductor testing system for testing a semiconductor device including an output buffer switching between a first mode for outputting data based on an input test signal and a second mode for setting an output terminal to a high impedance state, comprising:

a test signal generator supplying the test signal to the semiconductor device;

an external tester setting an output terminal of the output buffer to a predetermined potential if the output buffer is set to the second mode, wherein the external tester is a circuit applying the predetermined potential through a resistor that has a resistance value higher than an output impedance value of the output buffer in the first mode; and

a detecting circuit measuring a potential of an output of the output buffer,

the detecting circuit detecting a stuck-at fault in the semiconductor device based on the data if the test signal designates the first mode and detecting a stuck-at fault in the semiconductor device based on the predetermined potential if the test signal designates the second mode.

2. The semiconductor testing system according to claim 1 , wherein the external tester is a circuit mounted on a substrate connecting between an apparatus incorporating the test signal generator and the detecting circuit, and the semiconductor device.

3. The semiconductor testing system according to claim 1 , wherein the external tester is an active load circuit embedded into an apparatus incorporating the test signal generator and the detecting circuit.

4. A testing method of a semiconductor device including an output buffer switching between a first mode for outputting data based on an input test signal and a second mode for setting an output terminal to a high impedance state, comprising:

supplying the test signal to the semiconductor device;

setting an output terminal of the output buffer to a predetermined potential if the output buffer is set to the second mode, wherein the predetermined potential is applied through a resistor having a resistance value higher than an output impedance value of the output buffer in the first mode; and

detecting a stuck-at fault in the semiconductor device based on the data if the test signal designates the first mode and detecting a stuck-at fault in the semiconductor device based on the predetermined potential if the test signal designates the second mode.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025311/0860 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2007
From: HARADA, EIJI
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018776/0197 →