Motorola Corporation

Renny L Eisele

Sunil P Khatri

B Chris DeWitt

Kirk N Holden

A circuit die (10) has circuit modules (12a-12f). Adjacent the circuit modules (12a-12f) is a plurality of redundant circuits regions (14a-14i). Each of the redundant circuit regions (14a-14i) has one or more redundant circuits, such as redundant circuits (16k-16n). The redundant circuits (16k-16n) are identified and oriented via one of a binary, a ternary, or a quaternary circuit identifier comprised of symbols, such as symbols (18, 24, 44, and 56). The symbols (18, 24, 44, and 56) are capable of being lithographically defined in a small surface area and therefore minimize the surface area consumed by the redundant circuits regions (14a-14i). The redundant circuits (16k-16n) are preferably used by focused ion beam (FIB) equipment to replace, repair, or supplement various electrically functional portions of the circuit modules (12a-12f).

Circuit identifier for use with focused ion beam equipment

A self-adjusting precharge level circuit for coupling to an N-channel precharged bus line. The precharge circuit comprises first, second, and third N-channel transistors and first and second inverters. The first transistor couples the bus line to a positive power supply voltage terminal during a precharge period when the voltage on the bus line falls below the positive power supply voltage minus an N-channel MOS transistor threshold. The second and third transistors together couple the bus line to a second power supply voltage terminal during the precharge period when the voltage level of the bus line rises above positive power supply voltage minus the N-channel MOS therehold, after the voltage level is sensed by the first and second inverters. Sensing and adjusting the voltage in this manner allows the circuit to maintain an N-channel precharge level on a bus which has circuits driving CMOS levels coupled to it, while dampening the voltage response and suppressing oscillation.

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Manchaca, TX, United States of America

Renny L Eisele