Patent · US Active

Charge dynamics effect for detection of voltage contrast defect and determination of shorting location

US9735064B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
3References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

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Key dates

Filing dateJul 29, 2015
Grant dateAug 15, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 2, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L22/12
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting VC defects and determining the exact shorting locations based on charging dynamics induced by scan direction variation are provided. Embodiments include providing a substrate having at least a partially formed device thereon, the partially formed device having at least a word-line, a share contact, and a bit-line; performing a first EBI on the at least partially formed device in a single direction; classifying defects by ADC based on the first EBI inspection; selecting DOI among the classified defects for further review; performing a second EBI on the DOI in a first, second, third, and fourth direction; comparing a result of the first direction against a result of the second direction and/or a result of the third direction against a result of the fourth direction; and determining a shorting location for each DOI based on the one or more comparisons.

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