Patent · US Expired

Method for inspecting electrical devices

US4237379A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
5References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 22, 1979
Grant dateDec 2, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 22, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R31/308
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of inspecting electrical devices such as integrated circuit devices which have conductors covered by a protective layer of passivating material to determine the quality of the protective layer includes treating the circuit with a fluorescein containing dye and exposing the treated device to UV radiation while applying a voltage between two conductors. Fluorescence is observable in well passivated areas of the device but not in unpassivated or inadequately passivated areas. When a device is tested before dicing from a wafer, adjacent devices to which no voltage is applied fluoresce in both passivated and unpassivated areas.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.