| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20110037493 | PROBE-ABLE VOLTAGE CONTRAST TEST STRUCTURES - Test structures and method for detecting defects using the same. A probe-able voltage contrast (VC) comb test structure that includes first, second and third probe pads, a comb-like structure including grounded tines, floating tines between the grounded tines, switching devices coupled with an end portion of each floating tine, and connecting the floating tines to the second probe pad, and the third probe pad being a control pad which controls the switching devices. A probe-able VC serpentine test structure that includes first, second, third and fourth probe pads, a comb-like structure including grounded tines, floating tines between the grounded tines and each floating tine connected together between the second and third probe pads, switching devices connected to an end portion of each floating tine and connecting the floating tines to the second and third probe pads, and the fourth probe pad being a control pad which controls the switching devices. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110080180 | VARYING CAPACITANCE VOLTAGE CONTRAST STRUCTURES TO DETERMINE DEFECT RESISTANCE - A method for determining resistances of defects in a test structure, comprising: forming a first layer of the test structure having elements under test; generating a first e-beam image of the first layer, the first e-beam image graphically identifying defects detected at the first layer, each defect at the first layer having a corresponding grey scale level; adding capacitance to the structure by forming a metal layer of the structure; generating a second e-beam image of the metal layer, the second e-beam image graphically identifying defects detected at the metal layer, each defect at the metal layer having a corresponding grey scale level; generating a pattern of grey scale levels for each defect based on the corresponding grey scale level of each defect at each layer of the test structure; and determining a resistive range of each defect based on the pattern of grey scale levels generated for each defect. | 04-07-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080217612 | STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAPPING SIGNAL INTENSITY TO SURFACE VOLTAGE FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT INSPECTION - 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. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080225284 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR OPTIMIZING INSPECTION RECIPES USING PROGRAMMED DEFECTS - A method and computer program product for implementing inspection recipe services are provided. The method includes defining a modified reticle pitch for use in inspecting programmed defects on a test structure, the modified reticle pitch extending the distance of one reticle field plus a portion of an adjacent reticle field on the test structure. The test structure includes a number of arrays linearly arranged on the test structure and spaced equidistant, and each of the arrays corresponds to a reticle field and includes a number of cells. The method also includes using the modified reticle field pitch and an alignment site on the test structure to perform a random mode inspection of the test structure. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080237586 | Semiconductor Integrated Test Structures For Electron Beam Inspection of Semiconductor Wafers - Semiconductor integrated test structures are designed for electron beam inspection of semiconductor wafers. The test structures include pattern features that are formed in designated test regions of the wafer concurrently with pattern features of integrated circuits formed on the wafer. The test structures include conductive structures that are designed to enable differential charging between defective and non-defective features (or defective and non-defection portions of a given feature) to facilitate voltage contrast defect detection of CMOS devices, for example, using a single, low energy electron beam scan, notwithstanding the existence of p/n junctions in the wafer substrate or other elements/features. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20090096461 | TEST STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR RESISTIVE OPEN DETECTION USING VOLTAGE CONTRAST INSPECTION - A test structure for resistive open detection using voltage contrast (VC) inspection and method for using such structure are disclosed. The test structure may include a comparator within the IC chip for comparing a resistance value of a resistive element under test to a reference resistance and outputting a result of the comparing that indicates whether the resistive open exists in the resistive element under test, wherein the result is detectable by the voltage contrast inspection. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090146211 | GROUNDING FRONT-END-OF-LINE STRUCTURES ON A SOI SUBSTRATE - Structures and a method are disclosed for grounding gate-stack and/or silicon active region front-end-of-line structures on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, which may be used as test structures for VC inspection. In one embodiment, a structure includes a grounded bulk silicon substrate having the SOI substrate thereover, the SOI substrate including a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layer and a buried oxide (BOX) layer; the silicon active region having at least one finger element within the SOI layer, the at least one finger element isolated by a shallow trench isolation (STI) layer; and a polysilicon ground intersecting the at least one finger element and extending through the STI layer and the BOX layer to the grounded bulk silicon substrate, the polysilicon ground contacting the silicon active region and the grounded bulk silicon substrate. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20100301331 | BODY CONTACT STRUCTURE FOR IN-LINE VOLTAGE CONTRAST DETECTION OF PFET SILICIDE ENCROACHMENT - Test structures for in-line voltage contrast detection of PFET silicide encroachment defects are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention provide for improved PFET test structures for detecting encroachment defects using VC imaging techniques. The test structures use body contacts, and the PFET components (source, drain, body, and gate) are either grounded, or floating, depending on the configuration. Some embodiments of the present invention also enable the use of positive mode conditions with PFET test structures, which provides for improved contrast in the VC images, improving the effectiveness of the defect detection achieved with VC imaging. | 12-02-2010 |
