Patent · US Expired

Integrated circuit defect analysis using liquid crystal

US6956385B1 · kind B1 · utility

1Cited by
7References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 26, 2001
Grant dateOct 18, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 13, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L22/24
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Defect analysis of an integrated circuit die having a back side opposite circuitry at a circuit side and a liquid crystal liquid is enhanced using near infrared (nIR) laser light. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, nIR laser light is directed to an integrated circuit die having a liquid crystal layer formed over the die. When the die includes a defect that generates heat, the heat generated in the die as a result of the nIR laser light adds to the heat in the die generated as a result of the defect and causes a portion of the liquid crystal layer to change phase near the defect. The phase change is detected and used to identify a portion of the die having a defect.

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