Wireless IC Test Transceiver Circuit Reducing Wafer Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wired test schemes for ICs, which use probe cards with numerous needles, face issues such as increased pressure on wafers due to the large number of needles required for testing multiple ICs and pads, leading to inefficiencies in signal transmission and reception.
Innovation Solution
A wireless transceiver circuit using coils for inductive coupling, with pull-up and pull-down drivers and a controller to manage current flow between terminals, allowing for efficient signal transmission and reception without the need for separate bias voltage circuits, and a wireless power transmission/reception system that effectively turns power on and off to prevent unnecessary power reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large number of needles are used on the probe card for wired testing, then signal transmission between multiple ICs and pads is enabled, but pressure applied to the wafer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact system (needles physically touching pads) with a wireless electromagnetic field-based system. Inductive coupling coils generate magnetic fields that couple with receiver coils on IC chips, enabling signal transmission without physical contact. This eliminates the mechanical pressure problem while maintaining the ability to test multiple ICs simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electromagnetic fields as an intermediary medium for signal transmission. Instead of direct mechanical contact between needles and pads, the system uses transmitter coils to generate magnetic fields that couple with receiver coils, serving as an intermediate transmission medium. This intermediary approach enables wireless communication while eliminating the need for physical pressure.
2Stress or pressure
If inductive coupling coils are used for wireless signal transmission, then pressure on wafers is reduced, but circuit area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless transceiver functionality into separate transmit and receive sections, each with dedicated coils and control circuits. The transmitter section includes a transmitter coil and control circuit, while the receiver section includes a receiver coil and control circuit. This segmentation allows for optimized layout and reduced overall area by organizing functional blocks efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the wireless transceiver circuit to perform multiple functions using shared components. The same coil structure serves both as a transmitter coil and can function as a receiver coil depending on the operational mode. Control circuits are designed to handle both transmission and reception operations, reducing the need for completely separate hardware paths and minimizing overall circuit area.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces the area required for the wireless transceiver circuit, enables efficient signal transmission and reception with reduced pressure on wafers, and minimizes unnecessary power consumption by accurately controlling power transmission.
Implementation Method 1
The technology uses the wireless signal transmission/reception technology using inductively coupled coils
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless power transmission/reception system includes a wireless power transmission circuit and a wireless power reception circuit. The wireless power transmission circuit includes an oscillator, a DC-AC converter that converts a direct current to an alternating current and is turned on/off in response to a control signal, a power transmission coil that transmits AC power, a signal reception coil, and a signal receiver that transfers the control signal to the DC-AC converter. The wireless power reception circuit includes a power reception coil, a rectifier that converts an alternating current to a direct current and is turned on or off in response to the control signal, an control signal generator that generates the control signal, a signal transmission coil, and a signal transmitter that transmits the control signal through the signal transmission coil.