Patent · US Expired

Method of using scatterometry for analysis of electromigration, and structures for performing same

US6881594B1 · kind B1 · utility

1Cited by
8References
54Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 28, 2002
Grant dateApr 19, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 29, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2021/1721
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

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.

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