Via Chain Failure Analysis Using a Combination of E-Beam and Optical Beam Techniques

Author(s):  
Srikanth Perungulam ◽  
Albert Gleason

Abstract This paper outlines some of the optical and e-beam based techniques that can be used to isolate via chain failures. The Scanning electron microscope based techniques discussed are Passive Voltage Contrast (PVC) and Substrate Current Imaging (SCI). The optical beam technique discussed is Thermally Induced Voltage Alteration (TIVA) on the Laser Scanning Microscope. A combination of these techniques can be used to effectively analyze all types of via chain failures.

Author(s):  
Julien Goxe ◽  
Béatrice Vanhuffel ◽  
Marie Castignolles ◽  
Thomas Zirilli

Abstract Passive Voltage Contrast (PVC) in a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) or a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) is a key Failure Analysis (FA) technique to highlight a leaky gate. The introduction of Silicon On Insulator (SOI) substrate in our recent automotive analog mixed-signal technology highlighted a new challenge: the Bottom Oxide (BOX) layer, by isolating the Silicon Active Area from the bulk made PVC technique less effective in finding leaky MOSFET gates. A solution involving sample preparation performed with standard FA toolset is proposed to enhance PVC on SOI substrate.


Author(s):  
Alexander Sorkin ◽  
Chris Pawlowicz ◽  
Alex Krechmer ◽  
Michael W. Phaneuf

Abstract Competitive circuit analysis of Integrated Circuits (ICs) is one of the most challenging types of analysis. It involves multiple complex IC die de-processing/de-layering steps while keeping precise planarity from metal layer to metal layer. Each step is followed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) imaging together with mosaicking that subsequently passes through an image recognition and Graphic Database System (GDS) conversion process. This conventional procedure is quite time and resource consuming. The current paper discusses and demonstrates a new inventive methodology of circuit tracing on an IC using known FIB Passive Voltage Contrast (PVC) effects [1]. This technique provides significant savings in time and resources.


2009 ◽  
Vol 417-418 ◽  
pp. 521-524
Author(s):  
Michael Marx ◽  
Wolfgang Schäf ◽  
Markus T. Welsch ◽  
Horst Vehoff

From the emission of dislocations till short crack propagation fatigue is a local process determined by the microstructure. In this paper we present experiments based on refined applications of the scanning electron microscope and focused ion beam technique, which give detailed information about crack initiation and the interaction of short fatigue cracks with microstructural elements.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document