IP Library Granted Patent US 9,679,914
Granted Patent B2
US 9,679,914 · App. 14/715,375 · Granted Jun 13, 2017

Pads and pin-outs in three dimensional integrated circuits

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,679,914
App. No.
14/715,375
Granted
Jun 13, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A three dimensional semiconductor device, comprising: a substrate including a plurality of circuits; a plurality of pads, each pad coupled to a circuit; and a memory array positioned above or below the substrate and coupled to a circuit to program the memory array.

Claims (35)

1. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a first layer including a pattern of metal layers associated with a predetermined functionality for the semiconductor device;

a second layer including a plurality of programmable circuits; and

a third layer including a plurality of pads and a plurality of wire interconnects that pass through a third layer boundary and extend into at least one of the first layer or the second layer, wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer form a stack;

wherein the pattern of metal layers is configured to hard-wire the plurality of programmable circuits with the predetermined functionality.

2. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the pattern of metal layers is operable to couple to a logic high source, and wherein a second portion of the pattern of metal layers is operable to couple to a logic low source.

3. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the second layer further comprises a plurality of input/output circuits operable to couple by the plurality of wire interconnects to the plurality of pads, which are operable to electrically connect the semiconductor device to an external device and which are electrically connectable by a portion of the plurality of wire interconnects via the second layer to the pattern of metal layers.

4. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the first layer is below the second layer and the third layer.

5. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the second layer is below the first layer and the third layer.

6. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth layer including a plurality of metal interconnects.

7. The semiconductor device of claim 6 , wherein the fourth layer is disposed between the first layer and the second layer.

8. A method, comprising:

forming a semiconductor device, wherein said forming a semiconductor device comprises:

forming a stack including:

a first layer comprising a pattern of metal layers associated with a predetermined functionality for the semiconductor device;

a second layer comprising a plurality of programmable circuits; and

a third layer comprising a plurality of pads and a plurality of wire interconnects that pass through a third layer boundary and extend into at least one of the first layer or the second layer;

wherein the pattern of metal layers is configured to hard-wire the plurality of programmable circuits with the predetermined functionality; and

coupling at least a portion of the plurality of pads to the second layer.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a first portion of the pattern of metal layers is operable to couple to a logic high source, and wherein a second portion of the pattern of metal layers is operable to couple to a logic low source.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second layer further comprises a plurality of input/output circuits operable to couple by the plurality of wire interconnects to the plurality of pads, which are operable to electrically connect the semiconductor device to an external device and which are electrically connectable by a portion of the plurality of wire interconnects via the second layer to the pattern of metal layers.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first layer is below the second layer and the third layer.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second layer is below the first layer and the third layer.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the stack further comprises a fourth layer including a plurality of metal interconnects.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fourth layer is disposed between the first layer and the second layer.

15. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a substrate including a plurality of programmable circuits;

a first layer including a pattern of metal layers associated with a predetermined functionality for the semiconductor device; and

a second layer including a plurality of pads and a plurality of wire interconnects that pass through a second layer boundary and extend into at least one of the substrate or the first layer, wherein the substrate, the first layer, and the second layer form a stack;

wherein the pattern of metal layers is configured to hard-wire the plurality of programmable circuits with the predetermined functionality.

16. The semiconductor device of claim 15 , wherein a first portion of the pattern of metal layers is operable to couple to a logic high source, and wherein a second portion of the pattern of metal layers is operable to couple to a logic low source.

17. The semiconductor device of claim 15 , wherein the substrate further comprises a plurality of input/output circuits operable to couple by the plurality of wire interconnects to the plurality of pads, which are operable to electrically connect the semiconductor device to an external device and which are electrically connectable by a portion of the plurality of wire interconnects via the substrate to the pattern of metal layers.

18. The semiconductor device of claim 15 , further comprising a third layer including a plurality of metal interconnects.

19. The semiconductor device of claim 18 , wherein the third layer is disposed between the substrate and the first layer.

20. The semiconductor device of claim 15 , further comprising a heat sink coupled to the substrate.

Assignments (5)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 1, 2023
From: RPX CORPORATION
To: BARINGS FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063503/0742 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2020
From: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 154 LLC
To: LIBERTY PATENTS LLC
Reel/Frame 051709/0805 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2020
From: TIER LOGIC, INC.
To: YAKIMISHU CO. LTD., L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 051410/0232 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2020
From: CALLAHAN CELLULAR L.L.C.
To: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 154 LLC
Reel/Frame 051464/0389 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 9, 2015
From: YAKIMISHU CO. LTD., L.L.C.
To: CALLAHAN CELLULAR L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 036829/0821 →