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Semiconductor integrated circuit deviceRelated Patent Categories: Semiconductor Device Manufacturing: Process, With Measuring Or TestingSemiconductor integrated circuit device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060292713, Semiconductor integrated circuit device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGOURND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and more particularly to the configuration of an input/output circuit cell. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Generally, a flip-chip LSI has the following arrangement. Probing pads are arranged on the periphery of a chip. LSI peripheral circuit elements are arranged at a certain pitch in-an area inside the probing pads. The LSI peripheral circuit elements include an input/output circuit cell, a power supply cell for an input/output circuit for supplying a power supply voltage to the input/output circuit, and another power supply cell for an LSI internal logic circuit for supplying a power supply voltage to the LSI internal logic circuit. A cell region for the LSI internal logic circuit and others is arranged inside the LSI peripheral circuit elements. [0005] Further, on the surface of the chip, rearrangement wirings 5 for connecting the terminal pads and the LSI are arranged. The power supply lines for supplying a power supply voltage to drive these circuit elements include a power supply line for the LSI peripheral circuit located above the LSI peripheral circuit elements and another power supply line for the LSI internal logic circuit arranged on the periphery of the LSI internal logic circuit. These power supply lines are electrically isolated from one another. Incidentally, a flip-chip package may be e.g. a package including a ball grid array (BGA) formed on a stiffener. [0006] The timings of supplying a power supply voltage to each of the circuit elements within the LSI chip include a product testing timing as well as an operating timing. The product test includes a probing test at a wafer step and a test at a step of finished products after assembled. In the case of the test at a step of finished products after assembled, the product is operated at actual using frequency to test the input/output timing of a signal. In this case, for the purpose of evaluating the performance of the LSI chip in terms of its function and characteristic, both the LSI peripheral circuit element and the LSI internal logic circuit must be supplied with a sufficient power supply voltage. [0007] In recent years, with the development of large-scaling of LSI, the degree of integration continues to increase. The number of input terminals also continues to increase. However, as regards the probing pads 2, the pad pitch is limited to about 120 .mu.m under the present conditions in view of the operability of probing test or bonding. This is one problem which obstructs high degree of integration. [0008] This problem can be solved by a "staggered arrangement" in which a plurality of input/output circuits 3 are arranged at a pitch lager than half the pad pitch permitting bonding and a plurality of probing pads 2 are arranged at a pitch larger than the pad pitch permitting bonding on the region on the side of the chip periphery and on the cell region 6 on the side of the chip center with respect to the plurality of input/output circuits, respectively. (JP-A-10-284611) [0009] However, the staggered arrangement requires a wider pad region than a "single row arrangement" and is structured so that an internal circuit is separated from the pad region, which provides an empty region. This led to a limitation in the reduction of the chip size. [0010] As described above, the conventional semiconductor device is under the restriction in the arrangement of the probing pads. This has been a great problem which obstructs the high degree of integration. [0011] Further, if the bit width of data is increased in order to perform the high speed data transfer, the number of input/output circuit cells is increased. This led to the problem of increasing the number of the power supply cells for the input/output circuits to supply the power to these input/output cells. SUMMARY Of THE INVENTION [0012] This invention has been accomplished under the circumstance described above. An object of this invention is to provide a semiconductor device which can be downsized and integrated to a high degree, and provides good and sure operability of probing test. [0013] In order to attain the above object, this invention provides a semiconductor device including a rewiring characterized by mixedly comprising: an input/output (I/O) cell connected to a probing pad; and another input/output (I/O) cell having no probing pad. [0014] Some input/output cells do not necessarily require the probing pad. Therefore, these input/output cells are not provided with the probing pad. For this reason, the pitch of arranging the cells can be increased by the extent of the input/output cells provided with no probing pad. Thus, the degree of integration can be improved without reducing packaging operability. [0015] Further, the semiconductor device is characterized by further comprising a DRAM. [0016] In the case of the DRAM, if it is found by the test using the probing pad that the characteristic is problematic, the memory array which is problematic in the characteristic is cut by breaking fuse and others, and connected to a spare redundant circuit so that it is relieved. [0017] The semiconductor device is characterized by further comprising a fuse element. If it is found by the test using the probing pad that the characteristic is problematic, redundancy relief and characteristic adjustment (trimming) can be easily carried out by breaking the fuse element. [0018] The semiconductor device may lack a probing pad on at least one side. If the input/output circuit(s) provided with no probing pad is arranged on this side, the entire area on this side where the probing pad is formed can be reduced. [0019] Further, in the semiconductor device according to this invention, the probing pads may be arranged in a staggered manner. [0020] The input/output circuit cells are connected to the probing pads for probing test and connected to the terminal pads for external connection. In the test, from the probing pads, the monitoring of inputting or outputting a test pattern and power supply are carried out so that one of circuit blocks is subjected to probing test. In the testing at the stage of the final product after assembled, a signal and power are supplied from the package pins (terminals) connected to the terminal pads to drive the other of the circuit blocks. [0021] Thus, in a probing test, a semiconductor device with a small IR drop can be provided without increasing the chip area. [0022] The plurality of circuit blocks include an internal logic circuit block of a semiconductor integrated circuit and an input/output circuit block on the periphery. These circuit blocks are connected to the probing pads for probing test and terminal pads for external connection through the above input/output circuit cells. In the testing, from the probing pads, the monitoring of inputting or outputting a test pattern and power supply are carried out so that one of the circuit blocks is subjected to probing test. In driving, a signal and power are supplied from the package connected to the terminal pads to drive the internal logic circuit block. Continue reading about Semiconductor integrated circuit device... Full patent description for Semiconductor integrated circuit device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Semiconductor integrated circuit device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Semiconductor integrated circuit device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Process for the detection of a malfunction in a device for wire sawing and device for practicing said process Next Patent Application: Sensor and method for detecting electric contact degradation Industry Class: Semiconductor device manufacturing: process ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Semiconductor integrated circuit device patent info. 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