Method of using scatterometry for analysis of electromigration, and structures for performing same
First Claim
1. A method of performing electromigration analysis, comprising:
- forming a grating structure above a semiconducting substrate, said grating structure being comprised of a plurality of conductive structures;
forcing an electrical current through at least one of said conductive structures; and
performing scatterometric measurements of said at least one conductive structure to detect a change in shape of at least a portion of said at least one conductive structure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to various methods of using scatterometry for analysis of electromigration. In one illustrative embodiment, the method comprises forming a grating structure above a semiconducting substrate, the grating structure being comprised of a plurality of conductive structures, forcing an electrical current through at least one of the conductive structures and performing scatterometric measurements of at least one conductive structure to detect a change in shape of at least a portion of the conductive structure. In further embodiments, the method comprises determining a susceptibility of at least one conductive structure to electromigration based upon the detected change in shape of the conductive structure.
10 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method of performing electromigration analysis, comprising:
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forming a grating structure above a semiconducting substrate, said grating structure being comprised of a plurality of conductive structures;
forcing an electrical current through at least one of said conductive structures; and
performing scatterometric measurements of said at least one conductive structure to detect a change in shape of at least a portion of said at least one conductive structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of performing electromigration analysis, comprising:
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forming a grating structure above a semiconducting substrate, said grating structure being comprised of a plurality of conductive structures;
forcing an electrical current through at least one of said conductive structures;
performing scatterometric measurements of said at least one conductive structure while said electrical current is being forced through said at least one conductive structure to detect a change in shape of at least a portion of said at least one conductive structure; and
determining a susceptibility of said at least one conductive structure to electromigration based upon said detected change in shape of said at least one conductive structure. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of performing electromigration analysis, comprising:
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forming a grating structure above a semiconducting substrate, said grating structure being comprised of a plurality of conductive structures;
forcing an electrical current through at least one of said conductive structures;
after stopping said electrical current, performing scatterometric measurements of said at least one conductive structure to detect a change in shape of at least a portion of said at least one conductive structure; and
determining a susceptibility of said at least one conductive structure to electromigration based upon said detected change in shape of said at least one conductive structure. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of performing electromigration analysis, comprising:
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forming a grating structure above a semiconducting substrate, said grating structure being comprised of a plurality of conductive structures;
forcing an electrical current through at least one of said conductive structures;
performing scatterometric measurements of said at least one conductive structure to detect a change in shape of at least a portion of said at least one conductive structure; and
determining a rate of change of said shape of said at least one conductive structure and using said determined rate of change of said shape of said at least one conductive structure to predict the susceptibility of said at least one conductive structure to electromigration. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of performing electromigration analysis, comprising:
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forming a grating structure above a semiconducting substrate, said grating structure being comprised of a plurality of aluminum conductive structures;
forcing an electrical current through at least one of said conductive structures;
performing scatterometric measurements of said at least one conductive structure to detect a change in shape of at least a portion of said at least one conductive structure; and
determining a susceptibility of said at least one conductive structure to electromigration based upon said detected change in shape of said at least one conductive structure. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification