IP Library Granted Patent US 9,741,403
Granted Patent B2
US 9,741,403 · App. 14/539,331 · Granted Aug 22, 2017

Apparatuses and methods to perform post package trim

Inventors: Alan J. Wilson (Boise, ID); Jeffrey P. Wright (Boise, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
G11C7/20G11C11/4072G11C16/20G11C29/028G11C7/22G11C11/4076G11C11/4093G11C16/06G11C17/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,741,403
App. No.
14/539,331
Granted
Aug 22, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Memory die can be stacked to form a three-dimensional integrated circuit. For example, through-silicon vias (TSVs) can permit signals to pass vertically through the three-dimensional integrated circuit. Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods to perform post package trimming of memory die, which advantageously permits the memory die to be trimmed after the memory die is stacked, such that test and trimming characteristics are relatively close to that which will be actually be encountered.

Claims (51)

1. An apparatus comprising:

an integrated circuit die comprising:

an array of memory cells;

an interface configured to permit data transfer to and from the integrated circuit die;

a circuit configured to enter a post-package trim mode in response to instructions received over the interface, wherein the circuit is configured to:

receive a first set of one or more values from the interface;

store the first set of one or more values at a first latch;

adjust a characteristic of the integrated circuit relating to a memory characteristic based at least partly on the first set of one or more values from the first latch;

store the first set of one or more values in a first set of fuses in communication with the first latch;

receive a second set of one or more values from the interface;

store the second set of one or more values at a second latch;

adjust the characteristic of the integrated circuit relating to the memory characteristic based at least partly on the second set of one or more values from the second latch; and

store the second set of one or more values in a second set of fuses, wherein the second set of fuses is not in communication with the first latch.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit die further comprises through-silicon vias, wherein the interface is coupled to the through-silicon vias such that a plurality of integrated circuit die are stackable to form a three-dimensional integrated circuit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuit is configured to store the adjusted characteristic in a volatile manner for testing of a trimmed configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory cells comprise dynamic random access memory (DRAM).

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory cells comprise flash memory.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the adjusted characteristic comprises a setup and hold time of an address latch, a setup and hold time of a data latch, an output driver drive strength, or a configurable number of clock cycles for latency.

7. An electronically-implemented method of performing trimming for an integrated circuit die, the method comprising:

receiving, via an interface of the integrated circuit die, an instruction to enter a post-package trim mode, wherein the integrated circuit die comprises an array of memory cells, wherein the interface is configured to permit data transfer to and from the integrated circuit die;

receiving a first set of one or more values via the interface;

storing the first set of one or more values at a first latch;

adjusting a characteristic of the integrated circuit die relating to a memory characteristic based at least partly on the first set of one or more values from the first latch;

storing the first set of one or more values in a first set of fuses in communication with the first latch;

receiving a second set of one or more values via the interface; and

storing the second set of one or more values at a second latch;

adjusting the characteristic of the integrated circuit relating to the memory characteristic based at least partly on the second set of one or more values from the second latch; and

storing the second set of one or more values in a second set of fuses, wherein the second set of fuses is not in communication with the first latch.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the integrated circuit die has through-silicon vias for the interface and is arranged in a stack of a plurality of integrated circuit die of a system on a chip the method further comprising having a processor of the system on a chip communicate with test equipment via an externally-accessible communications port, and having the processor send the one or more values via the interface for post-package trim mode.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising storing the adjusted characteristic in a volatile manner in a second latch for testing of a trimmed configuration for soft post-package repair.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the interface comprises an input/output for the integrated circuit die, further comprising receiving commands for the post-package repair mode over the input/output.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising using a protocol for a post-package repair mode for the post-package trim mode.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the adjusted characteristic comprises a setup and hold time of an address latch, a setup and hold time of a data latch, an output driver drive strength, or a configurable number of clock cycles for latency.

13. A system on a chip comprising:

a processor; and

a plurality of integrated circuit memory die, wherein the plurality of integrated circuit memory die are arranged in a stack and share a bus via through-silicon vias, wherein an integrated circuit memory die of the plurality of integrated circuit memory die comprises:

an array of memory cells;

a bus configured to permit data transfer to and from the integrated circuit die;

a circuit configured to enter a post-package trim mode in response to instructions received over the bus and a chip select associated with the integrated circuit memory die, wherein the circuit is configured to:

receive a first set of one or more values from the bus;

store the first set of one or more values at a first latch;

adjust a characteristic of the integrated circuit relating to a memory characteristic based at least partly on the first set of one or more values from the first latch;

store the first set of one or more values in a first set of fuses in communication with the first latch, wherein the first set of fuses is configured to provide the first set of one or more values to the first latch;

receive a second set of one or more values from the bus;

store the second set of one or more values at a second latch;

adjust the characteristic of the integrated circuit relating to the memory characteristic based at least partly on the second set of one or more values from the second latch; and

store the second set of one or more values in a second set of fuses, wherein the second set of fuses is not in communication with the first latch.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the circuit is configured to store the adjusted characteristic in a volatile manner for testing of a trimmed configuration.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the memory cells comprise dynamic random access memory (DRAM).

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the adjusted characteristic comprises a setup and hold time of an address latch, a setup and hold time of a data latch, an output driver drive strength, or a configurable number of clock cycles for latency.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate with test equipment with an external communications port separate from the bus, and wherein the processor is configured to control the bus for post-package trim mode.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2014
From: WILSON, ALAN J.; WRIGHT, JEFFREY P.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 034219/0005 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160133310A1 · May 12, 2016