Multi-Level Approach for High-Precision Cache Fault Isolation—Case Study: Itanium® II Processor Low Voltage Cache Yield Improvement

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia Ling Kong ◽  
Mohammed R. Islam
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Fault Location ◽  
Low Voltage ◽  
Circuit Simulation ◽  
Physical Structure ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Embedded Memory ◽  
Yield Improvement ◽  
Multi Level

Abstract Fault Isolation / Failure Analysis (FI/FA) of increasingly complex embedded memory in microprocessors is becoming more difficult due to process scaling and presence of subtle defects. As physical failure analysis (PFA) is destructive and involves expensive and time-consuming processes, fault diagnosis needs to be as precise as possible to ensure successful physical defect sighting. This paper introduces a cache Fault Isolation methodology that focuses on exhaustive data collection to derive concrete hypothesis of physical fault location and to overcome the existing FA/FI challenges. The methodology involves a novel application of existing DFT techniques in combination with circuit analysis, pattern hacking, defect localization and PFA tools. Some of the techniques, for example pattern modification or circuit simulation, are applied repeatedly in order to obtain higher-level of isolation – from cell/logic level to transistor/gate level, and finally down to physical structure/layer level. This multi-level FI approach is the key to localize the failing area to greater precision, which had proven itself in Intel Itanium® II processor yield improvement process.

Case Study in Fault Isolation of a Metal Short for Yield Enhancement

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarven Ipek ◽  
David Grosjean
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Failure Mechanism ◽  
Photon Emission ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Yield Enhancement ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Laser Signal ◽  
Signal Injection ◽  
Microscopy Techniques

Abstract The application of an individual failure analysis technique rarely provides the failure mechanism. More typically, the results of numerous techniques need to be combined and considered to locate and verify the correct failure mechanism. This paper describes a particular case in which different microscopy techniques (photon emission, laser signal injection, and current imaging) gave clues to the problem, which then needed to be combined with manual probing and a thorough understanding of the circuit to locate the defect. By combining probing of that circuit block with the mapping and emission results, the authors were able to understand the photon emission spots and the laser signal injection microscopy (LSIM) signatures to be effects of the defect. It also helped them narrow down the search for the defect so that LSIM on a small part of the circuit could lead to the actual defect.

Die-Level Scanning Capacitance Microscopy Fault Isolation on SOI Fin-FET Devices for Advanced Semiconductor Nodes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucile C. Teague Sheridan ◽  
Tanya Schaeffer ◽  
Yuting Wei ◽  
Satish Kodali ◽  
Chong Khiam Oh
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Scanning Capacitance Microscopy ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force

Abstract It is widely acknowledged that Atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods such as conductive probe AFM (CAFM) and Scanning Capacitance Microscopy (SCM) are valuable tools for semiconductor failure analysis. One of the main advantages of these techniques is the ability to provide localized, die-level fault isolation over an area of several microns much faster than conventional nanoprobing methods. SCM, has advantages over CAFM in that it is not limited to bulk technologies and can be utilized for fault isolation on SOI-based technologies. Herein, we present a case-study of SCM die-level fault isolation on SOI-based FinFET technology at the 14nm node.

Advanced Scan Diagnosis Based Fault Isolation and Defect Identification for Yield Learning

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Eddleman ◽  
Nagesh Tamarapalli ◽  
Wu-Tung Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Fault Location ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Yield Enhancement ◽  
Yield Analysis ◽  
Isolation Techniques ◽  
Yield Learning ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Inspection Data

Abstract Yield analysis of sub-micron devices is an ever-increasing challenge. The difficulty is compounded by the lack of in-line inspection data as many companies adopt foundry or fab-less models for acquiring wafers. In this scenario, failure analysis is increasingly critical to help drive yields. Failure analysis is a process of fault isolation, or a method of isolating failures as precisely as possible followed by identification of a physical defect. As the number of transistors and metal layers increase, traditional fault isolation techniques are less successful at isolating a cause of failures. Costs are increasing due to the amount of time needed to locate the physical defect. One solution to the yield analysis problem is scan diagnosis based fault isolation. Previous scan diagnosis based techniques were limited with little information about the type of fault and confidence of diagnosis. With new scan diagnosis algorithms it is now possible to not only isolate, but to identify the type of fault as well as assigning a confidence ranking prior to any destructive analysis. This paper presents multiple case studies illustrating the application of scan diagnosis as an effective means to achieve yield enhancement. The advanced scan diagnostic tool used in this study provides information about the fault type as well as fault location. This information focuses failure analysis efforts toward a suspected defect, decreasing the cycle time required to determine root cause, as well as increasing the over all success rate.

Short Wavelength Probing for Fault Isolation Applications

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravikumar Venkat Krishnan ◽  
Lua Winson ◽  
Vasanth Somasundaram ◽  
Phoa Angeline ◽  
Pey Kin Leong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Short Wavelength ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Laser Probing ◽  
Successful Case ◽  
20 Nm

Abstract Short wavelength probing (SWP) uses wavelengths of light shorter than 1100 nm or energies higher than silicon bandgap for laser probing applications. While SWP allows a significant improvement to spatial resolution, there are aberrations to the collected laser probing waveforms which result in difficulties in signal interpretations. In this work, we assess the signals collected through SWP (785 nm) and introduce a photodiode model to explain the observations. We also present a successful case study using 785 nm for failure analysis in sub-20 nm FinFET technology.

Case Study Failure Analysis of an Ultra-High Vacuum Enclosure Made of a Silicon Chip and Borosilicate Glass for the Cold Atom Laboratory

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gil Garteiz ◽  
Javeck Verdugo ◽  
David Aveline ◽  
Eric Williams ◽  
Arvid Croonquist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Failure Mechanism ◽  
Borosilicate Glass ◽  
High Vacuum ◽  
Cold Atom ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Ultra High Vacuum ◽  
Liquid Bath

Abstract In this paper, a failure analysis case study on a custom-built vacuum enclosure is presented. The enclosure’s unique construction and project requirement to preserve the maximum number of units for potential future use in space necessitated a fluorocarbon liquid bath for fault isolation and meticulous sample preparation to preserve the failure mechanism during failure analysis.

Cavity Up and Stack Die Backside Failure Analysis for Thin Die and High Pin Count Devices

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dat Nguyen ◽  
Thao To ◽  
Ray Harrison ◽  
Cuong Phan ◽  
John Drummond
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Front Side ◽  
Defect Identification ◽  
Automated Test Equipment ◽  
Special Analysis ◽  
Failure Correlation ◽  
Similar Sample

Abstract Owing to the configuration of cavity up and stacked die packaging and the requirements of backside analysis, both packaging types require similar sample preparation steps. This article describes the failure analysis (FA) process to be applied with cavity up and stack die packages. The FA process flow includes testing to determine the nature of the failure, failure correlation to chip and/or internal circuitry, die preparation for repackaging, die repackaging in a cavity down configuration, automated test equipment (ATE) testing to verify the integrity of the pre-packaging failure mode, backside thinning, global fault isolation, backside reconstruction, and defect identification by front side deprocessing. ATE FA can often be performed using special analysis modes and the modification of the test software to put tester in a halt or a loop during fault isolation. When this is completed, global FA techniques can be used. The article also presents a case study on the successful repackaging efforts of cavity up packages.

Zynq SOC Low-Voltage and Temperature-Dependent L2 Cache Failure Diagnosis and Defect Localization Case Study

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haonan Bai ◽  
Lan Yin Lee ◽  
Yang Jing ◽  
Peter Floyd Salinas ◽  
Kok Keng Chua
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Low Voltage ◽  
Data Access ◽  
Pattern Generation ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Programmable Logic ◽  
Single Chip ◽  
Tem Analysis ◽  
Test Methodology ◽  
Defect Localization

Abstract Failure analysis and defect localization on 28nm All Programmable Zynq System-on-Chip (SoC) device is extremely challenging. While conventional FPGA, which only consists of the Programmable Logic, has greater ease and flexibility in pattern generation during fault isolation, the all programmable SoC device integrates a dual ARM Cortex-A9 cores with Programmable Logic (PL) in a single chip. The cache data access in-between processor and PL is more complex and test methodology has lesser degree of control on cache data flow and stack sequence. This paper introduced an advanced fault isolation test methodology combining Software Development Kit (SDK) with scan based diagnostic test for cache failures. It successfully pinpoint to failure locations with physical defects found. As conventional physical failure analysis approaches using SEM based passive voltage contrast could not observe any abnormalities, current imaging and nano-probing measurement using AFP played critical roles in detecting nano-ampere leakages prior subsequent TEM analysis. The findings were then feedback to the foundry for process improvement. Furthermore, a new screening methodology is innovated where an extreme low-voltage test at high temperature in Automatic Test to detect and eliminate the process marginal leakage failure.

Automated Multi-Level Circuit Net Trace for Hotspot Analysis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. H. Goh ◽  
E. Susanto ◽  
Song Li ◽  
B. L. Yeoh ◽  
M. H. THor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Circuit Analysis ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Hotspot Analysis ◽  
Critical Step ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Review Current

Abstract Post-fault isolation layout net trace and circuit analysis based on abnormal hotspots is a critical step because it directly impacts the outcome of failure analysis. In this work, we review current commercial net tracing solutions in terms of their strengths and drawbacks. As an enhancement, a new net methodology that enables automation and the capability to execute tracing beyond first-level transistors is introduced. This approach could potentially eliminate manual net tracing and significantly improves the overall failure analysis turnaround time.

Failure Analysis of SRAM DQ Fault Using BIST Pattern

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
KeonIl Kim ◽  
Yoseop Lim ◽  
GhilGeun Oh ◽  
ShinYoung Chung ◽  
Brandon Lee
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Process Improvement ◽  
Fault Location ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Yield Enhancement ◽  
Input Output ◽  
Isolation Technique ◽  
Innovative Method ◽  
Self Test

Abstract SRAM failure analysis (FA) provides significant value to process improvement and yield enhancement. This paper introduces an innovative method to analyze the SRAM peripheral, particularly its input/output (DQ) failures, which is not easy to isolate the fault location. In this paper, SRAM Built-In Self-Test (BIST) logic is used to generate the vectors to toggle only DQ of SRAM and an optical fault isolation technique applies to isolate the fault location. Experimental results show that the proposed method is very effective to isolate timing fault and hard defect of SRAM DQ failures.

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