US5438166A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Customizable circuitry
Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt LLC
•
Filing: 1992-11-23
•
Granted: 1995-08-01
•
Expires: 2012-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A customizable circuit using a programmable interconnect and compatible TAB chip bonding design. The programmable interconnect comprises layers of wire segments forming programmable junctions rather than continuous wires. This segmentation is performed with an offset from line to line in each layer such that the ends of the segments in each layer form long diagonal lines having a pitch determined by the basic wire segment length. Uniform capacitance effects are achieved by alternating the layers of the wire segments. The terminal ends of the segments are positioned in a plane such that segments may be connected by short links to form the desired interconnect. The links which join the line segments customize the otherwise undedicated interconnect. Resistive links may be used to minimize undesirable transmission line effects. The segment ends may also be connected through electrically programmable elements. Carrier tape bonds the integrated circuit chips to the programmable interconnect. Also disclosed are methods for forming the interconnect and the TAB chip bonding design.
Inventors
- 👤 David H. Carey
- 👤 Barry H. Whalen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:47
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W70/00; H10W70/60; H10W70/611; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0286; H05K1/0287; H05K1/0289; H05K1/0296; H05K1/0298; H10W70/62; H10W70/641; H10W70/67; H10W70/68; H10W70/685; H10W70/688; H10W72/00; H10W72/50; H10W72/551; H10W72/552; H10W72/5524; H10W72/851; H10W72/874; H10W72/884; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49155; Y10T29/49156; Y10T29/49162
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A programmable electrical interconnect for connecting electrical components comprising: a set of X-conductors comprising a plurality of substantially parallel electrically conductive segments of substantially uniform length arranged end-to-end; a set of Y-conductors comprising a plurality of substantially parallel electrically conductive segments of substantially uniform length arranged end-to-end; and a plurality of programmable junctions formed in a regular pattern, each programmable junction comprising segment ends of two X-conductor segments, and segment ends of two Y-conductor segments, the segment ends in each programmable junction being positioned whereby selective electrical connection can be accomplished between all combinations of segment ends forming the programmable junction, thereby permitting selective X to X, Y to Y, and X to Y connection between the segment ends forming each programmable junction, as well as combinations of X to X, Y to Y, and X to Y connections.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A programmable electrical interconnect for connecting electrical components comprising: a set of X-conductors comprising a plurality of substantially parallel electrically conductive segments of substantially uniform length arranged end-to-end; a set of Y-conductors comprising a plurality of substantially parallel electrically conductive segments of substantially uniform length arranged end-to-end; and a plurality of programmable junctions formed in a regular pattern, each programmable junction comprising segment ends of two X-conductor segments, and segment ends of two Y-conductor segments, the segment ends in each programmable junction being positioned whereby selective electrical connection can be accomplished between all combinations of segment ends forming the programmable junction, thereby permitting selective X to X, Y to Y, and X to Y connection between the segment ends forming each programmable junction, as well as combinations of X to X, Y to Y, and X to Y connections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The interconnect of claim 1, wherein the X-conductor set and Y-conductor set being positioned whereby the segments of the X-conductor cross segments of the Y-conductors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The interconnect of claim 2, further comprising an interconnect layer including said programmable junctions, a majority of the X-segment and Y-segments extending to said interconnect layer to form the programmable junctions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The interconnect of claim 3, wherein the X-conductor segments being formed in first and second conductor layers, and wherein the Y-conductor segments being formed in the first and second conductor layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The interconnect of claim 3, wherein: each of said two X-conductor segments terminating at each programmable junction being formed in separate layers, a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer; and wherein each of said two Y-conductor segments terminating at each programmable junction being formed in separate layers, the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The interconnect of claim 3, wherein: end-to-end adjacent X-conductor segments alternate between a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer, the first and second conductor layers lying in separate planes; and wherein end-to-end adjacent Y-conductor segments alternate between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The interconnect of claim 1, further comprising: a resistive link, capable of accomplishing the selective X to X, Y to Y, and X to Y connections, selectively connected to at least one segment end, the link having a resistance sufficient to significantly reduce signal reflection of electrical signals carried by said interconnect.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The interconnect of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of resistive links, capable of accomplishing the selective X to X, Y to Y, and X to Y connections, selectively connecting the segment ends, the links having a combined distributed resistance sufficient to significantly reduce signal reflection of electrical signals carried by said interconnect.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The interconnect of claim 1, further comprising: a conductive plane substantially parallel to said sets of X- and Y-conductors; at least one conductive plane connection within at least one programming junction; and at least one resistive link selectively connecting at least one segment end to the conductive plane connection whereby the resistance of the at least one link significantly reduces signal reflection of electrical signals carried by the interconnect.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The interconnect of claim 1, wherein said programmable junctions are electrically programmable junctions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The interconnect of claim 10, further comprising an electrical programming layer wherein electrical programming of said programmable junctions can be accomplished.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The interconnect of claim 11, further comprising an electrical circuit for addressing said electrically programmable junctions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2019625A
Cited
US2914706A
Cited
US3028573A
Cited
US3148438A
Cited
US3128332A
Cited
US3142112A
Cited
US3525617A
Cited
US3378920A
Cited
US3478425A
Cited
US3535780A
Cited
US3564115A
Cited
US3499098A
Cited
US3485934A
Cited
US3702025A
Cited
US3711627A
Cited
US3621116A
Cited
US3683105A
Cited
US3718936A
Cited
US3777221A
Cited
US3909680A
Cited
US3824433A
Cited
US3838317A
Cited
FR2382101A1
Cited
US4210885A
Cited
DE2929050A1
Cited
EP0016522A1
Cited
US4254445A
Cited
US4438560A
Cited
US4467400A
Cited
US4458297A
Cited
US4486705A
Cited
US4434321A
Cited
US4426548A
Cited
US4443278A
Cited
US4524239A
Cited
EP0074303A1
Cited
US4489364A
Cited
US4495479A
Cited
US4605872A
Cited
US4495377A
Cited
US4521262A
Cited
US4744007A
Cited
FR2557755A1
Cited
US4870302A
Cited
US4675989A
Cited
EP0167732A1
Cited
US4642487A
Cited
US4636919A
Cited
EP0214628A2
Cited
US4764644A
Cited
US4652974A
Cited
US4750089A
Cited
US4720915A
Cited
US4899205A
Cited
US4823181A
Cited
US4876220A
Cited
US4881114A
Cited
US4857774A
Cited
US4758745A
Cited
US4758745B1
Cited
US5023751A
Cited
US5132878A
Cited
US4855619A
Cited
US4907127A
Cited
US5101323A
Cited
US4899439A
Cited
US5060116A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-31 | 1999-01-30 | 1999-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-31 | 2003-01-30 | 2003-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-31 | 2007-01-30 | 2007-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |