Method of testing individual dies on semiconductor wafers prior to singulation
First Claim
1. A method of processing and of testing a semiconductor wafer containing an array of integrated circuit dies, the wafer including areas of individual die circuitry and areas of distinct scribe line area which are separate from the individual die circuitry areas, the method comprising the following steps:
- providing die test cycling circuitry on the wafer for test cycling individual dies;
providing a passivation layer atop the wafer;
etching contact openings through the passivation layer to Vcc and Vss pads associated with individual dies;
providing a layer of conductive material atop the wafer;
patterning the layer of conductive material to provide a Vcc bus and a Vss bus atop the dies which interconnect with the Vcc and Vss pads respectively, the Vcc and Vss busses each including respective straight-line bus portions extending fully between individual die circuitry areas, each straight-line portion overlying a plurality of the individual die circuitry areas, the Vcc bus electrically connecting with the test cycling circuitry;
burn-in testing the wafer with voltages being applied to the Vss and Vcc buses to cycle the individual dies during burn-in testing;
etching the Vcc bus and Vss bus from the wafer;
etching contact openings through the passivation layer to conductive pads on individual dies;
testing the individual dies on the wafer for operability by engaging the conductive pads with testing equipment;
identifying operable and inoperable dies;
severing through the wafer to singulate the dies; and
collecting the operable dies.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of processing and testing a semiconductor wafer containing an array of integrated circuit dies comprises: a) providing die test cycling circuitry on the wafer b) etching contact openings through a passivation layer atop the wafer to Vcc and Vss pads associated with individual dies; c) patterning a layer of conductive material atop the water to provide a Vcc bus and a Vss bus which interconnect with the Vcc and Vss pads respectively, the Vcc bus electrically connecting with the test cycling circuitry; d) burn-in testing the wafer with selected voltages being applied to the Vss and Vcc buses e) etching the Vcc bus and Vss bus from the wafer; f) etching contact openings through the passivation layer to conductive pads on individual dies; g) testing the individual dies for operability by engaging the conductive pads with testing equipment; h) identifying operable dies; i) singulating the dies; and j) collecting the operable dies.
126 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of processing and of testing a semiconductor wafer containing an array of integrated circuit dies, the wafer including areas of individual die circuitry and areas of distinct scribe line area which are separate from the individual die circuitry areas, the method comprising the following steps:
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providing die test cycling circuitry on the wafer for test cycling individual dies; providing a passivation layer atop the wafer; etching contact openings through the passivation layer to Vcc and Vss pads associated with individual dies; providing a layer of conductive material atop the wafer; patterning the layer of conductive material to provide a Vcc bus and a Vss bus atop the dies which interconnect with the Vcc and Vss pads respectively, the Vcc and Vss busses each including respective straight-line bus portions extending fully between individual die circuitry areas, each straight-line portion overlying a plurality of the individual die circuitry areas, the Vcc bus electrically connecting with the test cycling circuitry; burn-in testing the wafer with voltages being applied to the Vss and Vcc buses to cycle the individual dies during burn-in testing; etching the Vcc bus and Vss bus from the wafer; etching contact openings through the passivation layer to conductive pads on individual dies; testing the individual dies on the wafer for operability by engaging the conductive pads with testing equipment; identifying operable and inoperable dies; severing through the wafer to singulate the dies; and collecting the operable dies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification