IP Library Granted Patent US 11,569,139
Granted Patent B2
US 11,569,139 · App. 17/194,636 · Granted Jan 31, 2023

Electrical overlay measurement methods and structures for wafer-to-wafer bonding

Inventors: Ikue Yokomizo (Nagoya, JP); Michiaki Sano (Ichinomiya, JP); Kazuto Watanabe (Nagoya, JP); Hajime Yamamoto (Nagoya, JP); Takashi Yamaha (Obu, JP); Koichi Ito (Yokkaichi, JP); Katsuya Kato (Yokkaichi, JP); Ryo Hiramatsu (Yokkaichi, JP); Hiroshi Sasaki (Nagoya, JP); Akihiro Tobioka (Nagoya, JP); Liang Li (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
H01L22/34H01L22/12H01L24/89H01L2224/08145H01L2224/80895
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 11,569,139
App. No.
17/194,636
Granted
Jan 31, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method includes providing a first wafer including a respective set of first metal bonding pads and at least one first alignment diagnostic structure, providing a second wafer including a respective set of second metal bonding pads and a respective set of second alignment diagnostic structures, overlaying the first wafer and the second wafer, measuring at least one of a current, voltage or contact resistance between the first alignment diagnostic structures and the second alignment diagnostic structures to determine an overlay offset, and bonding the second wafer to the first wafer.

Claims (9)

1. A method of bonding a first wafer and a second wafer, comprising:

providing a first wafer including a first two-dimensional array of first semiconductor dies, wherein each of the first semiconductor dies comprises a respective set of first metal bonding pads and a first alignment diagnostic structure located at a same level as the first metal bonding pads;

providing a second wafer including a second two-dimensional array of second semiconductor dies, wherein each of the second semiconductor dies comprises a respective set of second metal bonding pads and a respective set of second alignment diagnostic structures comprising a central alignment diagnostic structure and peripheral alignment diagnostic structures that surround the central alignment diagnostic structure, wherein the second alignment diagnostic structures are located at a same level as the second metal bonding pads;

overlaying the first wafer and the second wafer;

applying opposite polarity current or voltage between the first alignment diagnostic structure and the central alignment diagnostic structure to electrostatically attract the first alignment diagnostic structure and the central alignment diagnostic structure;

applying a same polarity current or voltage between the first alignment diagnostic structure and the peripheral alignment diagnostic structures to electrostatically repel the first alignment diagnostic structure from the peripheral alignment diagnostic structure; and

bonding the second wafer to the first wafer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying the opposite polarity current or voltage and applying the same polarity current or voltage occur at the same time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first semiconductor die comprises a memory die and the second semiconductor die comprises a logic die comprising a peripheral circuit configured to control the memory die.

Assignments (10)
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 071382/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071050/0001 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 23, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS THE AGENT
Reel/Frame 068762/0494 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 27, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067982/0032 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2024
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067567/0682 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 056285 FRAME 0292 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058982/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 056285/0292 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2021
From: YOKOMIZO, IKUE; SANO, MICHIAKI; WATANABE, KAZUTO; YAMAMOTO, HAJIME; YAMAHA, TAKASHI; ITO, KOICHI; KATO, KATSUYA; HIRAMATSU, RYO; SASAKI, HIROSHI; TOBIOKA, AKIHIRO; LI, LIANG
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
Reel/Frame 055520/0508 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,666,973