Patent · US Expired

Techniques for impressing a voltage with an electron beam

US4296372A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
1References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 23, 1979
Grant dateOct 20, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 23, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R31/305
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An insulated conductive region, such as a doped semiconductor region in a semiconductor substrate and/or a metal conductor carried insulated on a substrate is subjected to non-destructive testing to determine the electrical integrity of the region. The outer portion of the insulating material may be, for example, a passivating layer and is provided with a metal film which extends over a conductive region to be tested. An electrical potential is applied to the metal film and the structure is subjected to electron beam radiation of sufficient energy level to provide a diffusion cloud which extends from the metal film to the region undergoing tests to form an electrical connection therewith. A voltage measurement taken at the region, with respect to a reference provides an indication of the electrical integrity of the tested region.

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