ALTERNATING OPEN-ENDED VIA CHAINS FOR TESTING VIA FORMATION AND DIELECTRIC INTEGRITY
First Claim
1. A wafer structure comprising:
- integrated circuit chips;
kerf areas located between said integrated circuit chips;
via chain test structures in at least one of said kerf areas and said integrated circuit chips, said via chain test structures comprising;
a first conductor in a first area of said wafer structure;
a second conductor in a second area of said wafer structure;
first via chains connected at individual points to said first conductor, each of said first via chains comprising an open-ended electrical circuit beginning at said first conductor and ending in an insulated region of said second area of said wafer structure; and
second via chains connected at individual points to said second conductor, each of said second via chains comprising an open-ended electrical circuit beginning at said second conductor and ending in an insulated region of said first area of said wafer structure.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Kerf areas are located between the integrated circuit chips on a wafer. Via chain test structures are located in the kerf areas or test chips. The via chain test structures comprise a first conductor in a first area of the wafer. First via chains are connected at individual points to the first conductor. Each of the first via chains comprises an open-ended electrical circuit beginning at the first conductor and ending in an insulated region of a second area of the wafer. The via chain test structures comprise a second conductor in the second area. Second via chains are connected at individual points to the second conductor. Each of the second via chains comprises an open-ended electrical circuit beginning at the second conductor and ending in an insulated region of the first area.
4 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A wafer structure comprising:
-
integrated circuit chips; kerf areas located between said integrated circuit chips; via chain test structures in at least one of said kerf areas and said integrated circuit chips, said via chain test structures comprising; a first conductor in a first area of said wafer structure; a second conductor in a second area of said wafer structure; first via chains connected at individual points to said first conductor, each of said first via chains comprising an open-ended electrical circuit beginning at said first conductor and ending in an insulated region of said second area of said wafer structure; and second via chains connected at individual points to said second conductor, each of said second via chains comprising an open-ended electrical circuit beginning at said second conductor and ending in an insulated region of said first area of said wafer structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A structure comprising:
-
a first electrically conductive spine in a first area of a semiconductor wafer, said first electrically conductive spine having first electrical connectors protruding from a base of said first electrically conductive spine; a second electrically conductive spine in a second area of said semiconductor wafer, said second electrically conductive spine having second electrical connectors protruding from a base of said second electrically conductive spine; first via chains operatively connected to said first electrical connectors, a first via chain being operatively connected to each of said first electrical connectors, each of said first via chains comprising an open-ended electrical circuit beginning at said first electrically conductive spine and ending in an insulated region of said second area; and second via chains operatively connected to said second electrical connectors, a second via chain being operatively connected to each of said second electrical connectors, each of said second via chains comprising an open-ended electrical circuit beginning at said second electrically conductive spine and ending in an insulated region of said first area. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A structure comprising:
-
a wafer having a top surface and a bottom surface; integrated circuit chips located on said top surface of said wafer; kerf areas located between said integrated circuit chips on said top surface of said wafer; and via chain test structures located in said kerf areas, said via chain test structures comprising; a first conductor in a first portion of said kerf areas; a second conductor in a second portion of said kerf areas; first via chains connected at individual points to said first conductor, each of said first via chains comprising an open-ended electrical circuit beginning at said first conductor and ending in an insulated region of said second portion of said kerf areas; and second via chains connected at individual points to said second conductor, each of said second via chains comprising an open-ended electrical circuit beginning at said second conductor and ending in an insulated region of said first portion of said kerf areas. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification