IP Library Granted Patent US 9,431,309
Granted Patent B2
US 9,431,309 · App. 14/056,044 · Granted Aug 30, 2016

Method for wafer level reliability

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,431,309
App. No.
14/056,044
Granted
Aug 30, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for ensuring wafer level reliability is provided. The method involves: forming a gate oxide layer having a thickness of less than 50 Å on a semiconductor substrate; forming a PMOS element having a channel length of less than 0.13 μm on the semiconductor substrate; and assessing hot carrier injection (HCI) for the PMOS element.

Claims (15)

1. A method for ensuring wafer level reliability, the method comprising:

forming a gate oxide layer having a thickness of less than 50 Å on a semiconductor substrate;

forming a PMOS element having a channel length of less than 0.13 μm on the semiconductor substrate;

forming a high voltage NMOS element on a semiconductor substrate;

assessing substrate hot carrier injection (sub-HCI) for the high voltage NMOS element; and

assessing hot carrier injection (HCI) for the PMOS element.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a condition of gate and drain voltages satisfy an equation, Vg=Vd=Vop, during the process of assessing hot carrier injection (HCI), wherein Vg is gate voltage, Vd is drain voltage, and Vop is operating voltage.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a source voltage satisfies an equation, Vs=Vb, wherein Vs is source voltage, and Vb is bulk voltage.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a criterion for determining a reliability lifetime (L/T) in the HCI test is 0.2 year.

5. The method of claim wherein the assessing of the sub-HCI is implemented at a condition of gate and drain voltages satisfying an equation, Vg=Vd=Vop, wherein Vg is gate voltage, Vd is drain voltage, and Vop is operating voltage.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a predetermined voltage of less than the operating voltage is applied to a source to reduce a potential difference to a drain, wherein Vs=½ Vop, Vs is source voltage, and Vop is operating voltage.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a predetermined source voltage of 0 V and a predetermined bulk voltage that is equal to negative bias are applied to bulk silicon (Si) to enhance a vertical field effect to the gate and bulk.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a threshold voltage (Vth) shift ratio of less than 2% is used as a test criterion on the basis of subsequent to stress for a predetermined period of time.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the high voltage NMOS element has an operating voltage of 10-40 V.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the PMOS element has an operating voltage of 1-5 V.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 12, 2024
From: KEY FOUNDRY CO., LTD.
To: SK KEYFOUNDRY INC.
Reel/Frame 066794/0290 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2020
From: MAGNACHIP SEMICONDUCTOR, LTD.
To: KEY FOUNDRY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 053703/0227 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2013
From: LEE, KYENAM; JANG, HYUNHO
To: MAGNACHIP SEMICONDUCTOR, LTD.
Reel/Frame 031423/0872 →