IP Library Granted Patent US 7,538,558
Granted Patent B2
US 7,538,558 · App. 11/727,136 · Granted May 26, 2009

Failure detection apparatus and failure detection method for a semiconductor apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,538,558
App. No.
11/727,136
Granted
May 26, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A failure detection apparatus for a semiconductor apparatus includes a clock line to transmit a clock signal, a shield line to shield the clock line, an inverted signal setting unit to supply signals inverted to each other to the clock and shield lines in a failure detection mode, and a failure detection evaluator to detect a failure by comparing static current consumption in each of the failure detection mode and a normal operation mode.

Claims (33)

1. A failure detection apparatus for a semiconductor apparatus comprising:

a clock line to transmit a clock signal;

a shield line to shield the clock line;

an inverted signal setting unit to supply signals inverted to each other to the clock and shield lines in a failure detection mode; and

a failure detection evaluator to detect a failure by comparing static current consumption in each of the failure detection mode and a normal operation mode.

2. The failure detection apparatus for the semiconductor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the inverted signal setting unit supplies an inverted signal to the clock line, the inverted signal is an inverted reference signal input from an external terminal of the semiconductor to the shield line.

3. The failure detection apparatus for the semiconductor apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a signal selector to select the inverted or the clock signal to supply to the clock line.

4. The failure detection apparatus for the semiconductor apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the static current consumption in the failure detection mode is a static current consumption in which a signal of a logical level 0 and 1 or 1 and 0 is supplied to each of the clock and the shield line.

5. The failure detection apparatus for the semiconductor apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the static current consumption in the normal operation mode is a static current consumption in which the clock and the shield lines are at a same potential.

6. The failure detection apparatus for the semiconductor apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the clock line is connected to a macro block via a plurality of flip-flops, and

the signal selector selects the inverted or the clock signal in a position closer to the macro block than the flip-flops that are closest to the macro block.

7. The failure detection apparatus for the semiconductor apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the static current consumption in the failure detection mode is a static current consumption in which a signal of a logical level 0 and 1 or 1 and 0 is supplied to each of the clock and the shield line.

8. The failure detection apparatus for the semiconductor apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the static current consumption in the normal operation mode is a static current consumption in which the clock and the shield lines are at a same potential.

9. The failure detection apparatus for the semiconductor apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the static current consumption in the failure detection mode is a static current consumption in which a signal of a logical level 0 and 1 or 1 and 0 is supplied to each of the clock and the shield line.

10. The failure detection apparatus for the semiconductor apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the static current consumption in the normal operation mode is a static current consumption in which the clock and the shield lines are at a same potential.

11. The failure detection apparatus for the semiconductor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the static current consumption in the failure detection mode is a static current consumption in which a signal of a logical level 0 and 1 or 1 and 0 is supplied to each of the clock and the shield line.

12. The failure detection apparatus for the semiconductor apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein

the static current consumption in the normal operation mode is a static current consumption in which the clock and the shield lines are at a same potential.

13. The failure detection apparatus for the semiconductor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the static current consumption in the normal operation mode is a static current consumption in which the clock and the shield lines are at a same potential.

14. A method for failure detection for a semiconductor apparatus comprising:

supplying signals inverted to each other to a clock line that passes a clock signal and a shield line that shields the clock line in a failure detection mode; and

detecting a failure by comparing static current consumptions in each of the failure detection and a normal operation modes.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044928/0001 →
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 Mar 23, 2007
From: NAKAMURA, HISHASHI
To: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019157/0511 →