IP Library Granted Patent US 9,035,674
Granted Patent B2
US 9,035,674 · App. 13/323,634 · Granted May 19, 2015

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

Inventors: Hong Xiao (Pleasanton, CA); Jack Y. Jau (Los Altos Hills, CA); Chang Chun Yeh (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: HERMES MICROVISION, INC.
H01L22/12H01L22/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,035,674
App. No.
13/323,634
Granted
May 19, 2015
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 (14)

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

providing a plurality of normal active areas on a sample;

placing a plurality of defective active areas on said sample, wherein said normal active areas and said defective active areas are interlaced;

obtaining a charge particle microscope image of said sample; and

determining said manufacturing defect on said sample from said charged particle microscope image.

2. The method for determining a manufacturing defect of claim 1 , wherein said manufacturing defect is a void-induced short of said normal active areas.

3. The method for determining a manufacturing defect of claim 2 , wherein said void-induced short is determined by monitoring the bright voltage contrast image of said active areas from said charged particle microscope image.

4. The method for determining a manufacturing defect of claim 1 , wherein said defect is a non-open contact of said normal active areas.

5. The method for determining a manufacturing defect of claim 4 , wherein said non-open contact is determined by monitoring the dark voltage contrast image of said active areas that has large voltage contrast difference from said charged particle microscope image.

6. The method for determining a manufacturing defect of claim 1 , wherein said sample comprises a dynamic random access memory.

7. The method for determining a manufacturing defect of claim 1 , wherein said active areas are active areas of semiconductor devices.

8. The method for determining a manufacturing defect of claim 7 , 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).

9. The method for determining a manufacturing defect of claim 7 , wherein said defective active areas are active areas of semiconductor devices having heavily p-type doped source and drain, and p-type doped well (P+/P-well).

10. The method for determining a manufacturing defect of claim 7 , wherein said defective active areas are active areas of semiconductor devices having heavily n-type doped source and drain, and n-type doped welt (N+/N-well).

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 Dec 23, 2020
From: XIAO, HONG; JAU, JACK Y.; YEH, CHANG CHUN
To: HERMES-MICROVISION, INC.
Reel/Frame 054742/0423 →
Continuity (4)
Division 12110147 · Apr 25, 2008
Provisional Application 60914020 · Apr 25, 2007
Provisional Application 60940165 · May 25, 2007
Related Publication 20120083055A1 · Apr 5, 2012