IP Library Granted Patent US 8,698,321
Granted Patent B2
US 8,698,321 · App. 12/574,919 · Granted Apr 15, 2014

Vertically stackable dies having chip identifier structures

Inventor: Jungwon Suh (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,698,321
App. No.
12/574,919
Granted
Apr 15, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vertically stackable die having a chip identifier structure is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a semiconductor device is disclosed that includes a die comprising a first through silicon via to communicate a chip identifier and other data. The semiconductor device also includes a chip identifier structure that comprises at least two through silicon vias that are each hard wired to an external electrical contact.

Claims (33)

1. A multi-die stacked semiconductor device comprising:

a stack of at least two dies, wherein each die comprises:

a chip identifier structure that comprises a first set of at least two through silicon vias that are each hard wired to a set of external electrical contacts, wherein each external contact is coupled to a voltage source or ground, wherein each of the first set of through silicon vias has a pad that is coupled to an adjacent through silicon via;

chip identifier selection logic coupled to the chip identifier structure; and

a chip select structure that comprises a second set of at least two through silicon vias coupled to the chip identifier selection logic, wherein each of the second set of through silicon vias is coupled to its own respective pad.

2. The multi-die stacked semiconductor device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of: a set top box, a music player, a video player, an entertainment unit, a navigation device, a communications device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a fixed location data unit, or a computer, into which the multi-die stacked semiconductor device is integrated.

3. A method of making a stacked multi-die semiconductor device, the method comprising:

forming a stack of at least two dies, wherein each die comprises:

a chip identifier structure that comprises a first set of at least two through silicon vias that are each hard wired to a set of external electrical contacts;

chip identifier selection logic coupled to the chip identifier structure; and

a chip select structure that comprises a second set of at least two through silicon vias coupled to the chip identifier selection logic; and

coupling each external electrical contact to a voltage source or to ground, wherein each of the first set of through silicon vias has a pad that is coupled to an adjacent through silicon via and each of the second set of through silicon vias is coupled to its own respective pad.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each die further comprises a common access channel structure that comprises a plurality of through silicon vias.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the stack of dies is formed on a package substrate that supplies the voltage source and the ground and the package substrate has a plurality of package balls formed on a side of the package substrate opposite the stack of dies, the plurality of package balls comprising at least two chip select package balls coupled to the second set of through silicon vias in the chip select structure of one die of the stack of dies.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the stack of dies comprises a stack of memory dies.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the stack of dies is formed on a mother die that supplies the voltage source and the ground and the mother die comprises a third set of at least two through silicon vias coupled to the first set of through silicon vias in the chip identifier structure of one die of the stack of dies and a fourth set of at least two through silicon vias coupled to the second set of through silicon vias in the chip select structure of the one die of the stack of dies.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the mother die comprises a logic chip, the stack of dies comprises a stack of memory dies, and the fourth set of through silicon vias is coupled to a memory channel physical layer of the mother die.

9. The method of claim 3 , wherein each die of the stack of dies is substantially the same and the stack of dies is formed without programming, sorting, marking, or separating each die of the stack of dies.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein the forming and the coupling are initiated by a processor integrated into an electronic device.

11. The method of claim 3 , further comprising integrating the stacked multi-die semiconductor device into at least one of: a set top box, a music player, a video player, an entertainment unit, a navigation device, a communications device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a fixed location data unit, or a computer.

12. A method comprising:

a first step for forming a stack of at least two dies, wherein each die comprises:

a chip identifier structure that comprises a first set of at least two through silicon vias that are each hard wired to a set of external electrical contacts;

chip identifier selection logic coupled to the chip identifier structure; and

a chip select structure that comprises a second set of at least two through silicon vias coupled to the chip identifier selection logic; and

a second step for coupling each external electrical contact to a voltage source or to ground, wherein each of the first set of through silicon vias has a pad that is coupled to an adjacent through silicon via and each of the second set of through silicon vias is coupled to its own respective pad.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first step and the second step are initiated by a processor that is integrated into an electronic device.

14. A multi-die stacked semiconductor device comprising:

a stack of at least two dies, wherein each die comprises:

means for identifying a chip that comprises a first set of at least two through silicon vias that are each hard wired to a set of means for making external electrical contact, wherein each means for making external electrical contact is coupled to a voltage source or ground, wherein each of the first set of through silicon vias has a pad that is coupled to an adjacent through silicon via;

means for selecting a chip identifier coupled to the means for identifying a chip; and

means for selecting a chip that comprises a second set of at least two through silicon vias coupled to the means for selecting a chip identifier, wherein each of the second set of through silicon vias is coupled to its own respective pad.

15. The multi-die stacked semiconductor device of claim 14 , further comprising at least one of: a set top box, a music player, a video player, an entertainment unit, a navigation device, a communications device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a fixed location data unit, or a computer, into which the multi-die stacked semiconductor device is integrated.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2009
From: SUH, JUNGWON
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 023338/0944 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110079923A1 · Apr 7, 2011