Patent · US Expired

Methods and systems for determining a property of an insulating film

US7358748B1 · kind B1 · utility

7Cited by
64References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 30, 2005
Grant dateApr 15, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 30, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for determining a property of an insulating film is provided. The method may include obtaining a charge density measurement of the film, a surface voltage potential of the film relative to a bulk voltage potential of the substrate, and a rate of voltage decay of the film. The method may also include determining the property of the film using the charge density, the surface voltage potential, and the rate of voltage decay. A method for determining a thickness of an insulating film is provided. The method may include depositing a charge on the film, measuring a surface voltage potential of the film relative to a bulk voltage potential of the substrate, and measuring a rate of voltage decay of the film. The method may also include determining a thickness of the film using the rate of voltage decay and a theoretical model relating to current leakage and film thickness.

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