Method and device of using compressed data in far-end fuse box to initialize integrated circuit

Abstract

A method and apparatus for initializing an integrated circuit using compressed data from a remote fusebox allows a reduction in the number of fuses required to repair or customize an integrated circuit and allows fuses to be grouped outside of the macros repaired by the fuses. The remote location of fuses allows flexibility in the placement of macros having redundant repair capability, as well as a preferable grouping of fuses for both programming convenience and circuit layout facilitation. The fuses are arranged in rows and columns and represent control words and run-length compressed data to provide a greater quantity of repair points per fuse. The data can be loaded serially into shift registers and shifted to the macro locations to control the selection of redundant circuits to repair integrated circuits having defects or to customize logic.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a fuse programmable integrated circuit, and more particularly relates to an integrated circuit with a fuse read start sequence. Background technique [0002] Fuse programmable integrated circuits are used in applications that require customization and / or repair of manufacturing defects. Functional testing must be performed on integrated circuits and printed circuit boards to ensure that defect-free products are screened out. In many cases, integrated circuits can be repaired after wafer fabrication by providing redundant circuit elements that can be selected by fuse programmable logic. For example, if a defect is detected in a row of cells, an entire column in the memory array can be replaced with a spare column that would otherwise render the memory unusable. Redundant cells enable improved yields through redundant circuits and fused electronic components at the expense of increased circuit area. [0003] The aforem...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0006] The inability to place fuse-containing macros under other line and contact arrays or above other circuits severely limits the use of fuse-containing macros

It is possible to move all the fuses to a location where the fuses do not interfere with the contact array, but removing the fuses from the associated macro would require specialized design and either a large number of interconnects from the fuses to the associated macro, or A scheme of passing the value from the fuse to its associated macro is possible, but this requires a local latch and a remote latch for each fuse

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