Patent · US Active

Non-destructive, below-surface defect rendering using image intensity analysis

US7835564B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 30, 2007
Grant dateNov 16, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 15, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/2594
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Non-destructive, below-surface defect rendering of an IC chip using image intensity analysis is disclosed. One method includes providing an IC chip delayered to a selected layer; determining a defect location below a surface of the selected layer using a first image of the IC chip obtained using an CPIT in a first mode; generating a second image of the IC chip with the CPIT in a second mode, the second image representing charged particle signal from the defect below the surface of the selected layer; and rendering the defect by comparing an image intensity of a reference portion of the second image not including the defect with the image intensity of a defective portion of the second image including the defect, wherein the reference portion and the defective portion are of structures expected to be substantially identical.

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