Method and apparatus for relative testing of integrated circuit devices

1. A method, comprising:

determining at least one parameter for each of a plurality of integrated circuit devices loaded into a tester using the tester;

determining at least one relative acceptance criterion associated with the parameter based on the determined parameters for the plurality of integrated circuit devices;

determining a pass/fail status of each of the integrated circuit devices using the relative acceptance criterion;

testing a first subset of the integrated circuit devices that pass the relative acceptance criterion using a first test program; and

testing a second subset of the integrated circuit devices that pass the relative acceptance criterion using a second test program less detailed than the first program responsive to the integrated circuit devices in the first subset passing the testing using the first program.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

testing the integrated circuit devices that fail to pass the relative acceptance criterion using a third test program, wherein the third test program specifies a higher degree of testing than the first test program.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising scrapping at least one of the integrated circuit devices that fail to pass the relative acceptance criterion based on the relative acceptance criterion and the determined parameter of the at least one of the integrated circuit devices.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a set of parameters for each of the integrated circuit devices;

determining a relative acceptance criterion for each parameter in the set based on the sets of determined parameters for the plurality of integrated circuit devices; and

determining a pass/fail status of each of the integrated circuit devices using the relative acceptance criteria defined for the set of parameters.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising defining a test hierarchy for each parameter in the set, wherein the test hierarchy includes a plurality of levels varying in the degree of testing specified.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising determining a required level in the test hierarchy for subsequent testing of the integrated circuit devices based on the pass/fail status.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the at least one parameter for each of the integrated circuit devices in parallel.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of a fault parameter, a static current parameter, a dynamic current parameter, an operating voltage parameter, and or a timing parameter.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the at least one relative acceptance criterion further comprises:

determining an average value for the parameter; and

determining the at least one relative acceptance criterion as an offset from the average.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising excluding at least one outlier device in the plurality of integrated circuit devices from the average.

11. An integrated circuit tester, comprising:

a plurality of sockets for receiving a plurality of integrated circuit devices;

test circuitry operable to determine at least one parameter for each of the integrated circuit devices disposed in the sockets, determine at least one relative acceptance criterion associated with the parameter based on the determined parameters for the plurality of integrated circuit devices, determine a pass/fail status of each of the integrated circuit devices using the relative acceptance criterion, test a first subset of the integrated circuit devices that pass the relative acceptance criterion using a first test program, and test a second subset of the integrated circuit devices that pass the relative acceptance criterion using a second test program less detailed than the first program responsive to the integrated circuit devices in the first subset passing the testing using the first program.

12. The tester of claim 11 , wherein the test circuitry is further operable to test the integrated circuit devices that fail to pass the relative acceptance criterion using a third test program, wherein the third test program specifies a higher degree of testing than the first test program.

13. The tester of claim 11 , wherein the test circuitry is further operable to designate as scrap at least one of the integrated circuit devices that fail to pass the relative acceptance criterion based on the relative acceptance criterion and the determined parameter of the at least one of the integrated circuit devices.

14. The tester of claim 11 , wherein the test circuitry is further operable to determine a set of parameters for each of the integrated circuit devices, determine a relative acceptance criterion for each parameter in the set based on the determined parameters for the plurality of integrated circuit devices, and determine a pass/fail status of each of the integrated circuit devices using the relative acceptance criteria defined for the set of parameters.

15. The tester of claim 14 , wherein the test circuitry is further operable to employ a test hierarchy for each parameter in the set, wherein the test hierarchy includes a plurality of levels varying in the degree of testing specified.

16. The tester of claim 15 , wherein the test circuitry is further operable to determine a required level in the test hierarchy for subsequent testing of the integrated circuit devices based on the pass/fail status.

17. The tester of claim 11 , wherein the test circuitry is further operable to determine the at least one parameter for each of the integrated circuit devices in parallel.

18. The tester of claim 11 , wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of a fault parameter, a static current parameter, a dynamic current parameter, an operating voltage parameter, and or a timing parameter.

19. The tester of claim 11 , wherein the test circuitry is further operable to determine an average value for the parameter and determine the at least one relative acceptance criterion as an offset from the average.

20. The tester of claim 19 , wherein the test circuitry is further operable to exclude at least one outlier device in the plurality of integrated circuit devices from the average.

21. A tester comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of integrated circuit devices;

means for determining at least one parameter for each of the integrated circuit devices;

means for determining at least one relative acceptance criterion associated with the parameter based on the determined parameters for the plurality of integrated circuit devices;

means for determining a pass/fail status of each of the integrated circuit devices using the relative acceptance criterion;

means for testing a first subset of the integrated circuit devices that pass the relative acceptance criterion using a first test program; and

means for testing a second subset of the integrated circuit devices that pass the relative acceptance criterion using a second test program less detailed than the first program responsive to the integrated circuit devices in the first subset passing the testing using the first program.