Patent · US Active

Structure and method of mapping signal intensity to surface voltage for integrated circuit inspection

US7772866B2 · kind B2 · utility

85Cited by
5References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 7, 2007
Grant dateAug 10, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 19, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L22/34
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a test structure for inspection of integrated circuits. The test structure may be fabricated on a semiconductor wafer together with one or more integrated circuits. The test structure may include a common reference point for voltage reference; a plurality of voltage dropping devices being connected to the common reference point; and a plurality of electron-collecting pads being connected, respectively, to a plurality of contact points of the plurality of voltage dropping devices. A brightness shown by the plurality of electron-collecting pads during an inspection of the integrated circuits may be associated with a pre-determined voltage.

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