Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for characterizing shared contacts in high-density SRAM cell design

US6977512B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
7References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 4, 2003
Grant dateDec 20, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 14, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C11/41
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Test structures are provided for accurately quantifying shared contact resistance. The test structures are built based upon an actual memory cell, which is self-aligning to allow shared contact chains through an array of test cells. A main array of test cells is built to provide a chain of shared contact resistance. Using the main array of test cells, a resistance in the shared contact chain may be measured. Supplemental arrays of test cells is built to provide a chain of poly side resistance, a chain of island side resistance, a chain of island connection line resistance, and a chain of poly connection resistance. A tester measures resistance using the test structures and uses the values to accurately determine shared contact resistance.

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