International Business Machines Corporation

Howard B Druckerman

Franco Motika

Peilin Song

Jeanne P Bickford

Erik L Hedberg

Phillip J Nigh

Joseph J Oler, Jr

Approaches are provided for improving timing of new and existing semiconductor products. Specifically, a method is provided implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions operable to set starting across chip variation assumptions using design rules. The programming instructions are further operable to design a test chip and/or product chip using the starting across chip variation assumptions to close timing of the design. The programming instructions are further operable to place devices in the test chip and/or product chip. The programming instructions are further operable to compare performance of the devices within the test chip and/or the product chip to the starting across chip variation assumptions. The programming instructions are further operable to adjust the starting across chip variation assumptions based on the measured performance of the test chip and/or the product chip.

Semiconductor timing improvement

Disclosed is an alternating current (AC) scan diagnostic system in which one or a plurality of scan chains are tested by serially propagating predetermined bit patterns through the scan chain and comparing the output against an expected result. The system comprises identification phase, verifications and localization, and a characterization phases. The system is adaptable for use with on-board diagnostics and is adaptable for use with on-product clock generation systems.

AC scan diagnostic method

Growing community of inventors

Essex Junction, VT, United States of America

Howard B Druckerman