IP Library Granted Patent US 8,089,297
Granted Patent B2
US 8,089,297 · App. 12/110,147 · Granted Jan 3, 2012

Structure and method for determining a defect in integrated circuit manufacturing process

Assignee: Hermes-Microvision, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,089,297
App. No.
12/110,147
Granted
Jan 3, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention discloses a structure and method for determining a defect in integrated circuit manufacturing process, wherein the structure comprises a plurality of normal active areas formed in a plurality of first arrays and a plurality of defective active areas formed in a plurality of second arrays. The first arrays and second arrays are interlaced, and the defect is determined by monitoring a voltage contrast from a charged particle microscope image of the active areas.

Claims (12)

1. A test structure for determining a defect in integrated circuit manufacturing process, comprising:

a plurality of normal active areas formed in a plurality of first arrays on a die; and

a plurality of defective active areas formed in a plurality of second arrays on the die, wherein said first arrays and said second arrays are interlaced,

wherein said defect is determined by monitoring a voltage contrast from a charged particle microscope image of said active areas.

2. The test structure for determining a defect of claim 1 , wherein said defect is a void-induced short of said normal active areas or a non-open contact of said normal active areas.

3. The test structure for determining a defect of claim 2 , wherein said void-induced short is determined by monitoring the bright voltage contrast image of said active areas.

4. The test structure for determining a defect of claim 2 , wherein said non-open contact is determined by monitoring the dark voltage contrast image of said active areas that has large voltage contrast difference.

5. The test structure for determining a defect of claim 1 , wherein said active areas are active areas on the die of semiconductor devices.

6. The test structure for determining a defect of claim 5 , wherein said normal active areas are active areas of semiconductor devices having heavily n-type doped source and drain, and p-type doped well (N+/P-well).

7. The test structure for determining a defect of claim 5 , wherein said detective active areas are active areas of semiconductor devices having heavily p-type doped source and drain with p-type doped well (P+/P-well), heavily n-type doped source and drain with n-type doped well (N+/N-well), heavily p-type doped source and drain with n-type doped well (P+/N-well), p-type doped well (P-well/P-substrate), n-type doped well (N-well/P-substrate), or p-type doped substrate.

8. The test structure for determining a defect of claim 1 , wherein every two of said first arrays or second arrays on the die are spaced apart by at least one of said second arrays.

9. The test structure for determining a defect of claim 1 , wherein at least two of said first arrays or second arrays on the die are formed side by side.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2020
From: HERMES MICROVISION, INC.
To: HERMES MICROVISION INCORPORATED B.V.
Reel/Frame 054866/0742 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2020
From: HERMES MICROVISION INCORPORATED B.V.
To: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 054870/0156 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2008
From: XIAO, HONG; JAU, JACK Y.; YEH, CHANG CHUN
To: HERMES MICROVISION, INC.
Reel/Frame 020860/0577 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 60914020 · Apr 25, 2007
Provisional Application 60940165 · May 25, 2007
Related Publication 20080265251A1 · Oct 30, 2008