Patent · US Active

Non-contact method and apparatus for measurement of leakage current of p-n junctions in IC product wafers

US7414409B1 · kind B1 · utility

11Cited by
6References
9Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 19, 2005
Grant dateAug 19, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 11, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R31/311
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A non-contact apparatus and method for measuring of the leakage current and capacitance of p-n junctions in test structures within scribe lanes of IC product wafers is disclosed. The apparatus has a light source optically coupled with a fiber to a transparent electrode at the end of the fiber, which is brought close to the p-n junction under test. The ac signal generated from the test p-n junction is captured by this transparent and conducting coating electrode. The leakage current of a test p-n junction is determined using the frequency dependence of junction photo-voltage signal and reference signals from a p-n junction with low leakage current and known capacitance.

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