Comprehensive methodology for integrated circuit in-line defect classification

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard L. Guldi ◽  
Douglas E. Paradis ◽  
Nagarajan Sridhar ◽  
Jesse B. Hightower
Author(s):  
Julie Segal ◽  
Arman Sagatelian ◽  
Bob Hodgkins ◽  
Tom Ho ◽  
Ben Chu ◽  
...  

Abstract Physical failure analysis (FA) of integrated circuit devices that fail electrical test is an important part of the yield improvement process. This article describes how the analysis of existing data from arrayed devices can be used to replace physical FA of some electrical test failures, and increase the value of physical FA results. The discussion is limited to pre-repair results. The key is to use classified bitmaps and determine which signature classification correlates to which type of in-line defect. Using this technique, physical failure mechanisms can be determined for large numbers of failures on a scale that would be unfeasible with de-processing and physical FA. If the bitmaps are classified, two-way correlation can be performed: in-line defect to bitmap failure, as well as bitmap signature to in-line defect. Results also demonstrate the value of analyzing memory devices failures, even those that can be repaired, to gain understanding of defect mechanisms.


Author(s):  
R. M. Anderson

Aluminum-copper-silicon thin films have been considered as an interconnection metallurgy for integrated circuit applications. Various schemes have been proposed to incorporate small percent-ages of silicon into films that typically contain two to five percent copper. We undertook a study of the total effect of silicon on the aluminum copper film as revealed by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and ion microprobe techniques as a function of the various deposition methods.X-ray investigations noted a change in solid solution concentration as a function of Si content before and after heat-treatment. The amount of solid solution in the Al increased with heat-treatment for films with ≥2% silicon and decreased for films <2% silicon.


Author(s):  
Kemining W. Yeh ◽  
Richard S. Muller ◽  
Wei-Kuo Wu ◽  
Jack Washburn

Considerable and continuing interest has been shown in the thin film transducer fabrication for surface acoustic waves (SAW) in the past few years. Due to the high degree of miniaturization, compatibility with silicon integrated circuit technology, simplicity and ease of design, this new technology has played an important role in the design of new devices for communications and signal processing. Among the commonly used piezoelectric thin films, ZnO generally yields superior electromechanical properties and is expected to play a leading role in the development of SAW devices.


Author(s):  
S. Khadpe ◽  
R. Faryniak

The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is an important tool in Thick Film Hybrid Microcircuits Manufacturing because of its large depth of focus and three dimensional capability. This paper discusses some of the important areas in which the SEM is used to monitor process control and component failure modes during the various stages of manufacture of a typical hybrid microcircuit.Figure 1 shows a thick film hybrid microcircuit used in a Motorola Paging Receiver. The circuit consists of thick film resistors and conductors screened and fired on a ceramic (aluminum oxide) substrate. Two integrated circuit dice are bonded to the conductors by means of conductive epoxy and electrical connections from each integrated circuit to the substrate are made by ultrasonically bonding 1 mil aluminum wires from the die pads to appropriate conductor pads on the substrate. In addition to the integrated circuits and the resistors, the circuit includes seven chip capacitors soldered onto the substrate. Some of the important considerations involved in the selection and reliability aspects of the hybrid circuit components are: (a) the quality of the substrate; (b) the surface structure of the thick film conductors; (c) the metallization characteristics of the integrated circuit; and (d) the quality of the wire bond interconnections.


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