IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,237,205
Granted Patent B2
US 11,237,205 · App. 16/868,520 · Granted Feb 1, 2022

Test array structure, wafer structure and wafer testing method

Inventors: Tsang-Po Yang (New Taipei, TW); Jui-Hsiu Jao (Taoyuan, TW)
Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
G01R31/2851
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,237,205
App. No.
16/868,520
Granted
Feb 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A test array structure includes a substrate, first and second cells, first and second bit-line rings and four word-lines. Each of the first and second cells has a first drain region, a first gate region, a source region, a second gate region and a second drain region connected together in sequence. The first drain region and the first gate region of the first cell are located within the first bit-line ring. The second drain region and the second gate region of the first cell are located between the first and second bit-line rings. The first drain region and the first gate region of the second cell is located within the second bit-line ring. The second drain region of the first cell and the first drain region of the second cell are located between the two immediately-adjacent word-lines.

Claims (26)

1. A test array structure, comprising:

a substrate;

a first cell and a second cell, wherein each of the first and second cells has a first drain region, a first gate region, a source region, a second gate region and a second drain region connected together in sequence;

a first bit-line ring and a second bit-line ring located on the substrate, wherein the first drain region and the first gate region of the first cell are located within the first bit-line ring, the second drain region and the second gate region of the first cell is located between the first and second bit-line rings, the first drain region and the first gate region of the second cell is located within the second bit-line ring, and the second drain region and the second gate region of the second cell is located beyond the first and second bit-line rings; and

a first word-line, a second word-line, a third word-line and a fourth word-line located over the first and second bit-line rings, wherein the second drain region of the first cell and the first drain region of the second cell is located between the second and third word-lines.

2. The test array structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second bit-line rings is a closed oval ring extending along a first direction.

3. The test array structure of claim 2 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth word-lines are parallel to each other and extend along a second direction intersecting the first direction.

4. The test array structure of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of capacitors, wherein each of the first and second drain regions is connected to corresponding one of the capacitors.

5. The test array structure of claim 1 , wherein the source region of the first cell is located under and connected to the first bit-line ring, and the source region of the second cell is located under and connected to the second bit-line ring.

6. The test array structure of claim 1 , wherein the first gate region of the first cell is located under and connected to the first word-line, the second gate region of the first cell is located under and connected to the second word-line, the first gate region of the second cell is located under and connected to the third word-line, and the second gate region of the second cell is located under and connected to the fourth word-line.

7. The test array structure of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third cell having a first drain region, a first gate region, a source region, a second gate region and a second drain region connected together in sequence, wherein the first drain region and the first gate region of the third cell is located between the first and second bit-line ring, the second drain region and the second gate region of the third cell is located within the second bit-line ring.

8. The test array structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second cells has two channel regions located under the corresponding first and second gate regions respectively.

9. A wafer structure comprising a plurality of chips, and at least one of the chips having the test array structure of claim 1 .

10. A wafer testing method comprising:

providing a wafer structure having the test array structure of claim 1 ;

applying an “on” voltage to the first bit-line ring and an “off” voltage to the second bit-line ring;

applying “on” voltages to the first, second, third and fourth word-line and measuring a first leakage amplitude which is a current between the second drain region of the first cell to drain region of the second cell;

applying “off” voltages to the first and the third word-line, applying “on” voltages to the second and fourth word-line, and measuring a second leakage amplitude which is a current between the second drain region of the first cell and the first drain region of the second cell;

comparing the first leakage amplitude and the second leakage amplitude to determine whether a leakage of the first and second cells appears; and

marking the wafer structure as a failure wafer if the leakage of the first and second cells appears.

11. The wafer testing method of claim 10 , wherein the test array structure further comprises a third cell having a first drain region, a first gate region, a source region, a second gate region and a second drain region connected together in sequence, wherein the first drain region and the first gate region of the third cell is located between the first and second bit-line ring, the second drain region and the second gate region of the third cell is located within the second bit-line ring, the wafer testing method further comprising:

measuring a third leakage amplitude which is a current between the second drain region of the first cell and the first drain region of the third cell;

determining whether a leakage of the first and third cells appears according to the third leakage amplitude; and

marking the wafer structure as a failure wafer if the leakage of the first and third cells appears.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2020
From: YANG, TSANG-PO; JAO, JUI-HSIU
To: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052605/0527 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210349145A1 · Nov 11, 2021