Power spectrum analysis for defect screening in integrated circuit devices
First Claim
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1. A method of screening defects in a sample of a device, comprising:
- supplying a time-varying electrical signal to the sample between a power pin and a ground pin of the sample, wherein the time-varying electrical signal is periodic and has a sine-wave, square-wave, or periodic chirp waveform;
measuring a power spectrum at a selected one of a plurality of pins of the sample wherein the measured power spectrum represents a response of the sample solely to said time-varying electrical signal and wherein, while measuring the power spectrum, each pin of the device other than the selected pin and the ground and power pins is floating or else biased at constant voltage; and
identifying an indication of a defect in the sample based on results of comparing the power spectrum with one or more power spectra of the device that have a known defect status.
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Abstract
A device sample is screened for defects using its power spectrum in response to a dynamic stimulus. The device sample receives a time-varying electrical signal. The power spectrum of the device sample is measured at one of the pins of the device sample. A defect in the device sample can be identified based on results of comparing the power spectrum with one or more power spectra of the device that have a known defect status.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of screening defects in a sample of a device, comprising:
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supplying a time-varying electrical signal to the sample between a power pin and a ground pin of the sample, wherein the time-varying electrical signal is periodic and has a sine-wave, square-wave, or periodic chirp waveform; measuring a power spectrum at a selected one of a plurality of pins of the sample wherein the measured power spectrum represents a response of the sample solely to said time-varying electrical signal and wherein, while measuring the power spectrum, each pin of the device other than the selected pin and the ground and power pins is floating or else biased at constant voltage; and identifying an indication of a defect in the sample based on results of comparing the power spectrum with one or more power spectra of the device that have a known defect status. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for analyzing a sample of a device, comprising:
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a signal generator configured to supply a time-varying electrical signal between a power pin of the sample and a ground pin of the sample, wherein the time-varying electrical signal is periodic and has a sine-wave, square-wave, or periodic chirp waveform; a spectrum analyzer configured to measure a power spectrum at a selected one of a plurality of pins of the sample wherein the measured power spectrum represents a response of the sample solely to the time-varying electrical signal and wherein, while measuring the power spectrum, each pin of the device other than the selected pin and the ground and power pins is floating or else biased at constant voltage; and a computer system to identify an indication of a defect in the sample based on results of comparing the power spectrum with one or more power spectra of the device that have a known defect status. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of screening a sample electronic device, comprising:
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applying a periodic voltage signal between a power pin and a ground pin of the sample device; measuring a power spectrum at a selected one of a plurality of pins of the sample device wherein the measured power spectrum represents a response of the sample solely to the applied periodic voltage, and wherein during the power spectrum measurement, each pin of the device other than the selected pin and the ground and power pins is floating, biased at constant voltage, or coupled through a load resistor to a constant voltage; comparing the measured power spectrum to reference data, thereby to produce a comparison result; and classifying the sample electronic device according to the comparison result. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification