Abstract:
Detektor (100) zur Bestimmung eines fehlerhaften Halbleiterbauelements (101) mit einem Halbleiterbauelement (101), einer Kontaktviakette (102), die lateral beabstandet zum Halbleiterbauelement (101) angeordnet ist und das Halbleiterbauelement (101) bereichsweise umschließt, einem Guardring (103), der lateral beabstandet zum Halbleiterbauelement (101) angeordnet ist und einer Auswerteeinheit (104), die auf dem Halbleiterbauelement (101) angeordnet ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Auswerteeinheit (104) eingerichtet ist, eine elektrische Spannung an die Kontaktviakette (102) anzulegen, insbesondere eine dauerhafte elektrische Spannung, einen Widerstandswert der Kontaktviakette (102) zu erfassen und ein Ausgangssignal zu erzeugen, wenn der Widerstandswert der Kontaktviakette (102) einen Schwellenwert überschreitet.
Abstract:
Through-silicon via (TSV) crack sensors for detecting TSV cracks in three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuits (ICs) (3DICs), and related methods and systems are disclosed. In one aspect, a TSV crack sensor circuit is provided in which doped rings for a plurality of TSVs are interconnected in parallel such that all interconnected TSV doped rings may be tested at the same time by providing a single current into the contacts of the interconnected doped rings. In another aspect, a TSV crack sensor circuit is provided including one or more redundant TSVs. Each doped ring for a corresponding TSV is tested independently, and a defective TSV may be replaced with a spare TSV whose doped ring is not detected to be cracked. This circuit allows for correction of a compromised 3DIC by replacing possibly compromised TSVs with spare TSVs.
Abstract:
Product ICs/wafers include additional diagnostic, test, or monitoring structures opportunistically placed in filler cell positions, within tap cells, within decap cells, within scribe line areas, and/or within dummy fill regions. Improved fabrication processes utilize data from such structure (s) in wafer disposition decisions, rework decisions, process control, yield learning, or fault diagnosis.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for detecting defects on a wafer using defect-specific and multi-channel information are provided. One method includes acquiring information for a target on a wafer. The target includes a pattern of interest (POI) formed on the wafer and a known defect of interest (DOI) occurring proximate to or in the POI. The method also includes detecting the known DOI in target candidates by identifying potential DOI locations based on images of the target candidates acquired by a first channel of an inspection system and applying one or more detection parameters to images of the potential DOI locations acquired by a second channel of the inspection system. Therefore, the image(s) used for locating potential DOI locations and the image(s) used for detecting defects can be different.
Abstract:
A semiconductor chip for process monitoring of semiconductor fabrication, has a plurality of arrays with a plurality of diodes, each diode being formed in the chip, each diode being associated with a stack with at least one horizontal interconnect (410), the stack and the diode connected in series to form a diode stack combination, wherein the horizontal interconnect has a salicided polysilicon interconnect comprising complementary doped polysilicon sections (412, 414) to form a reverse biased diode.
Abstract:
Embodiments generally relate to integrated circuit devices having through silicon vias (TSVs). In one embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) device includes a field of TSVs and an address decoder that selectably couples at least one of the TSVs to at least one of a test input and a test evaluation circuit. In another embodiment, a method includes selecting one or more TSVs from a field of TSVs in at least one IC device, and coupling each selected TS V to at least one of a test input and a test evaluation circuit.
Abstract:
A testing system for carrying out electrical testing of at least a through via (10) extending, at least in part, through a substrate (3) of a body (2) of semiconductor material and having a first end (10b) buried within the substrate (3) and not accessible from the outside of the body (2). The testing system has an electrical test circuit (22) integrated in the body (2) and electrically coupled to the through via (10) and to electrical-connection elements (8) carried by the body (2) for electrical connection towards the outside; the electrical test circuit (22) has a buried microelectronic structure (28) integrated in the substrate (3) so as to be electrically coupled to the first end (10b) of the through via (10), thereby closing an electrical path within the substrate (3) and enabling detection of at least one electrical parameter of the through via (10) through the electrical-connection means (8).