Fusebox Compacted Data Expansion for IC Fault Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing density of circuit elements leads to a higher likelihood of faults, making existing fuse-based repair methods inefficient due to large amounts of data required for fault correction in circuitry, particularly in data stores with growing capacity and decreasing size.
Innovation Solution
An integrated circuit with a compacted data storage system in the fusebox, utilizing a fusebox controller with a data expander to efficiently transmit and expand data for repairing faulty elements, allowing for parallel communication and flexible interface configurations to reduce power and time consumption during repair processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fusebox stores repair information for all memories associated with the controller, then the ability to repair faulty elements is improved, but the amount of data stored in the fusebox becomes very large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential repair information from the complete memory test data. Instead of storing full repair information for all memories, the system identifies and stores only the compacted repair data that is actually needed, reducing the data quantity while maintaining repair capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the data representation parameters by using compressed/compacted data formats. The repair information is stored in a compressed form that reduces the data size while preserving the essential repair instructions, allowing the fusebox to store less data while still enabling effective memory repair.
2Quantity of substance
If the fusebox stores compacted data, then the data storage requirement is reduced, but the data must be decompressed and transmitted to the controller
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the decomposition action in advance by including decompression capabilities within the fusebox itself. The compacted data is prepared and stored in a format that can be quickly decompressed locally, eliminating the need for complex external processing and reducing the data transmission burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a decompressor as an intermediary component within the fusebox. This intermediary handles the transformation from compacted storage format to usable repair data format, simplifying the overall system architecture by keeping the decomposition function integrated rather than requiring external processing.
3Device complexity
If the controller reads repair information serially from the fusebox, then the data transmission is simplified, but the repair time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission process into parallel operations. Multiple repair information records are prepared in parallel within the fusebox, and the decomposition and transmission of these segments can occur simultaneously or in overlapping fashion, reducing the total repair time while maintaining transmission simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by maintaining the decompression and data preparation processes within the fusebox during the communication cycle. The decompressor operates continuously to prepare repair data, eliminating idle waiting time and ensuring that the controller receives ready-to-use repair information without interruption.
Data Source
AI summary
The application discloses an integrated circuit comprising: circuitry; a fusebox for storing an array of data identifying faulty elements within said circuitry; at least one fusebox controller for repairing said faulty elements in said circuitry in response to data received from said fusebox; a data communication path linking said fusebox controller with said fusebox; wherein said data stored in said fusebox is compacted data and said at least one fusebox controller comprises a data expander for expanding said compacted data received from said fusebox via said data communication path prior to repairing any faulty elements in said circuitry.