Semiconductor dies and wafers and methods for making
First Claim
1. A semiconductor wafer comprising:
- a plurality of individual dies containing integrated circuits, the dies containing at least one signal node;
scribe line area separating the dies to be severed through to cut the wafer into individual chips;
a conductive interface test pad formed in the scribe line area; and
a conductive interconnecting line extending from the at least one signal node to the conductive interface test pad in the scribe line area.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a method for producing individual semiconductor chips which are singulated from larger wafers, and singulated wafers produced according to the method. Wafers from which the singulated dies are produced include scribe line area through which the wafer is cut by a saw or other method for singulating individual dies. In one aspect of the invention, test pads are provided within the scribe line area for testing of individual dies prior to severing of the wafer. In another aspect of the invention, conventional test circuitry is formed within the scribe line area and utilized in conjunction with text pads for testing operability of individual wafers prior to severing of the wafer into individual chips. Upon test, the scribe lines are severed effectively destroying the sacrificial test pads and circuitry.
263 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A semiconductor wafer comprising:
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a plurality of individual dies containing integrated circuits, the dies containing at least one signal node; scribe line area separating the dies to be severed through to cut the wafer into individual chips; a conductive interface test pad formed in the scribe line area; and a conductive interconnecting line extending from the at least one signal node to the conductive interface test pad in the scribe line area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A semiconductor wafer comprising:
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a plurality of individual dies containing integrated circuits, the dies containing at least one signal node; scribe line area separating the dies to be severed through to cut the wafer into individual chips; integrated test circuitry formed within the scribe line area; and a conductive interconnecting line extending from the at least one signal node to the integrated test circuitry formed within the scribe line area. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of fabricating a semiconductor wafer comprising the following steps:
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processing a semiconductor wafer to form a plurality of individual dies containing integrated circuits and at least one signal node, the individual dies being formed on the wafer to define severing scribe line area between individual dies; forming at least one conductive interface test pad in the scribe line area; forming conductive interconnecting lines which extend from a plurality of signal nodes from different individual dies to the at least one conductive interface test pad in the scribe line area; testing individual dies in parallel by contacting a test probe with the at least one conductive interface test pad; designating which of the tested individual dies are defective; severing through the scribe line area, the conductive interface test pad, and interconnecting lines within the scribe line area, to form individual chips; and collecting operable chips. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of fabricating a semiconductor wafer comprising the following steps:
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processing a semiconductor wafer to form a plurality of individual dies containing integrated circuits and at least one signal node, the individual dies being formed on the wafer to define severing scribe line area between individual dies; forming integrated test circuitry within the scribe line area; forming conductive interconnecting lines which extend from a plurality of signal nodes from different individual dies to the integrated test circuitry within the scribe line area; testing individual dies by using the integrated test circuitry within the scribe line area; designating which of the tested individual dies are defective; severing through the scribe line area, the interconnecting lines within the scribe line area, and the integrated test circuitry within the scribe line area, to form individual chips; and collecting operable chips. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification