IP Library Granted Patent US 11,830,828
Granted Patent B2
US 11,830,828 · App. 17/203,271 · Granted Nov 28, 2023

System and method for detection of defects in semiconductor devices

Inventors: Liang Li (Shanghai, CN); Kevin Hu (Shanghai, CN); Wendy Yu (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
H01L23/585H01L22/34
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,830,828
App. No.
17/203,271
Granted
Nov 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for detecting the presence of assembly related defects on a semiconductor device including an edge ring having a resistance value and including one or more layers configured to at least partially cover the semiconductor device in a first direction. The one or more layers are divided into a first section and a second section. Each layer of the one or more layers are in electrical communication with one another. The resistance value of the edge ring is at a first resistance value associated with the first and second sections being intact. At least one of the first section and second section is configured to break in response to an assembly related defect, and the resistance value of the edge ring is configured to change from the first resistance value to a second resistance value in response to at least one of the first and second sections being broken.

Claims (47)

1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of defects on a semiconductor device, the apparatus comprising:

an edge ring having a resistance value, wherein a change in the resistance value indicates a defect on the semiconductor device, the edge ring comprising:

a first terminal layer defining a bottom layer of the edge ring and including a first terminal;

a second terminal layer defining a top layer of the edge ring and including a second terminal and a third terminal;

one or more conductive layers positioned between the first terminal layer and second terminal layer and configured to at least partially cover the semiconductor device in a first direction, the one or more conductive layers divided into a first section and a second section,

wherein there is a first electrical path defined by the first section electrically connected in series to the first terminal and the second terminal,

wherein there is a second electrical path defined by the second section electrically connected in series to the first terminal and the third terminal,

wherein the first electrical path and second electrical path are electrically connected in parallel,

wherein the resistance value of the edge ring has a first resistance value associated with the first and second sections being intact, at least one of the first section and second section configured to break in response to an assembly related defect, and

wherein, the resistance value of the edge ring is configured to change from the first resistance value to a second resistance value in response to at least one of the first and second sections being broken.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second resistance value is greater than the first resistance value.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second resistance value is about double the first resistance value.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the resistance value of the edge ring is configured to change from the first resistance value to a third resistance value in response to the first and second sections being broken.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the third resistance value is greater than the first resistance value.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor device is a 3D NAND.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the 3D NAND is a CMOS bonded array.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the CMOS bonded array includes a CMOS logic die bonded to a NAND die.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more conductive layers comprise one or more of polysilicon, tungsten, copper, and aluminum.

10. An apparatus for detecting the presence of assembly related defects on a semiconductor device, the apparatus comprising:

a first terminal means for providing an electrical connection to a power source, the first terminal means defining a bottom layer of the apparatus and including a first terminal;

a second terminal means for providing electrical connections to electrical measurement means for measuring an electrical resistance, the second terminal means defining a top layer of the apparatus and including a second and third terminal; and

a conductive enclosure means for at least partially covering the semiconductor device in at least one direction, the conductive enclosure means positioned between the first terminal means and the second terminal means and having a resistance value, the enclosure means including a first section and a second section at least one of which configured to break in response to an assembly related defect;

wherein there is a first electrical path defined by the first section electrically connected in series to the first terminal and the second terminal,

wherein there is a second electrical path defined by the second section electrically connected in series to the first terminal and the third terminal,

wherein the first electrical path and second electrical path are electrically connected in parallel,

wherein the resistance value of the enclosure means has a first resistance value associated with the first and second sections of the conductive enclosure means being intact, and

wherein, the resistance value of the enclosure means is configured to change from the first resistance value to a second resistance value in response to at least one of the first and second sections of the conductive enclosure means being broken.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the second resistance value is greater than the first resistance value.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the second resistance value is about double the first resistance value.

13. A method of detecting assembly related defects of a semiconductor device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an edge ring having a resistance value, the edge ring comprising:

a first terminal layer defining a bottom layer of the edge ring and including a first terminal;

a second terminal layer defining a top layer of the edge ring and including a second terminal and a third terminal;

one or more conductive layers positioned between the first terminal layer and second terminal layer and configured to at least partially cover the semiconductor device in a first direction, the one or more conductive layers divided into a first section and a second section,

wherein there is a first electrical path defined by the first section electrically connected in series to the first terminal and the second terminal,

wherein there is a second electrical path defined by the second section electrically connected in series to the first terminal and the third terminal,

wherein the first electrical path and second electrical path are electrically connected in parallel,

wherein the resistance value of the edge ring has a first resistance value associated with the first and second sections being intact, at least one of the first section and second section configured to break in response to an assembly related defect, and

wherein, the resistance value of the edge ring is configured to change from the first resistance value to a second resistance value in response to at least one of the first and second sections being broken;

determining whether the resistance value of the edge ring has changed;

in response to determining that the resistance value of the edge ring has not changed:

determining that no assembly defect has occurred on the semiconductor device; and

in response to determining that the resistance value of the edge ring has changed:

determining that an assembly defect has occurred on the semiconductor device.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the semiconductor device includes a circuit configured to determine the measured resistance value.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises:

providing an external pad and applying a voltage to the external pad for determining the resistance value, the external pad being external to the semiconductor device.

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 17, 2021
From: LI, LIANG; HU, KEVIN; YU, WENDY
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 055616/0682 →