Measuring integrity of semiconductor multi-layer metal structures
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting defects in conductive lines on semiconductor devices which comprises:
- applying current to the conductive lines;
measuring voltages induced by the current;
determining a 1/f voltage spectral density of the measured voltages; and
comparing the 1/f voltage spectral density to a predetermined reference for detecting the presence of voids in the conductive lines.
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Abstract
A fast, nondestructive, and low cost method for measuring the integrity of semiconductor multi-layer conducting structures uses a voltage spectral density technique. The method compares the magnitude and frequency of generally non-periodic low frequency voltages induced by direct current flow in test structures to the same parameters of a defect free structure.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for detecting defects in conductive lines on semiconductor devices which comprises:
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applying current to the conductive lines; measuring voltages induced by the current; determining a 1/f voltage spectral density of the measured voltages; and comparing the 1/f voltage spectral density to a predetermined reference for detecting the presence of voids in the conductive lines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for measuring the integrity of semiconductor metal structures having a plurality of metal layers interconnected by vias, wherein each metal layer may have sharp bends, or cross surface discontinuities, which comprises:
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applying a direct current to the structure; measuring voltages induced along a section of the structure by the direct current; utilizing a transform algorithm to convert the voltage measurements to a 1/f voltage spectrum; and comparing said 1/f voltage spectrum to a predetermined reference within a 1 Hz to 51 Hz range in order to detect defects in the metal structure. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A semiconductor multi-layer metal system measurement structure for determining defects in the metal system, comprising:
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a plurality of sections of upper and lower metal lines alternately placed with the trailing end of one section overlapping the leading end of the next section wherein the metal lines have a predetermined width; vias connecting the overlapping section end points to create and electrically and mechanically continuous structure having a beginning point and a terminating point; means for contacting the beginning and terminating points and applying a current; and means for contacting the structure and measuring a low frequency noise voltage to determine a 1/f voltage spectral density. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for measuring the integrity of semiconductor layered metal structures which comprises:
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applying a direct current to the structure; measuring voltages having generally non-periodic frequencies that are induced by the direct current; converting the measured voltages to a 1/f voltage spectral density; and comparing the 1/f voltage spectral density to a predetermined reference to detect defects in the metal structure. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification