Optimization of integrated circuit reliability

US9395403B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Carole D. Graas · Jericho, US
• Nazmul Habib · South Burlington, US
• Deborah M. Massey · Jericho, US
• John G. Massey · Jericho, US
• Pascal A. Nsame · South Burlington, US
• Ernest Y. Wu · South Burlington, US
• Emmanuel Yashchin · Yorktown Heights, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 28, 2013
• Grant date: Jul 19, 2016
• Expiry date: Aug 15, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R31/50
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A per-chip equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) circuit sensor resides in an integrated circuit. The per-chip EOT circuit sensor determines electrical characteristics of the integrated circuit. The measured electrical characteristics include leakage current. The determined electrical characteristics are used to determine physical attributes of the integrated circuit. The physical attributes, including EOT, are used in a reliability model to predict per-chip failure rate.