Failure Analysis of SOI Bipolar Device Using Photon Emission Microscopy

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd M. Simons ◽  
Bob Davis
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Failure Mechanism ◽  
Photon Emission ◽  
Silicon On Insulator ◽  
The Other ◽  
No Emission ◽  
Analysis Process ◽  
Soi Devices ◽  
Emission Microscopy ◽  
Optical Paths

Abstract Photon emission microscopy (PEM) provides a valuable first step in the failure analysis process. An analysis of a mixed signal bipolar/CMOS silicon on insulator (SOI) device revealed an abnormal emission site that appeared to emanate from the oxide isolation ring. Subsequent mechanical probing of the emitting bipolar transistor revealed node voltages nearly identical to a known good reference unit that had no emission site at the affected transistor. This article analyzes the reasons for the emission site on one transistor and not the other even though the node voltages were the same. It was observed that while the node voltages were nearly identical, the available current paths were not. The different paths directly related to the amount of available carriers for recombination in the base. The construction of the SOI device creates unique optical paths for emission sites not observed in non-SOI devices. It can be concluded that the failure mechanism does not always reside at the abnormal PEM site.

Analysis of Delta Iddq Soft Fails on Pass Chips

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Österreicher ◽  
S. Eckl ◽  
B. Tippelt ◽  
S. Döring ◽  
R. Prang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Failure Mode ◽  
Photon Emission ◽  
Complete Analysis ◽  
Functional Tests ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Current Consumption ◽  
Emission Microscopy ◽  
Failure Localization

Abstract Depending on the field of application the ICs have to meet requirements that differ strongly from product to product, although they may be manufactured with similar technologies. In this paper a study of a failure mode is presented that occurs on chips which have passed all functional tests. Small differences in current consumption depending on the state of an applied pattern (delta Iddq measurement) are analyzed, although these differences are clearly within the usual specs. The challenge to apply the existing failure analysis techniques to these new fail modes is explained. The complete analysis flow from electrical test and Global Failure Localization to visualization is shown. The failure is localized by means of photon emission microscopy, further analyzed by Atomic Force Probing, and then visualized by SEM and TEM imaging.

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.

SRAM Failure Analysis Strategy

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Egger ◽  
C. Burmer
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Failure Analysis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Analysis Strategy ◽  
Emission Microscopy ◽  
Metal Layers ◽  
Failure Localization

Abstract The area of embedded SRAMs in advanced logic ICs is increasing more and more. On the other hand smaller structure sizes and an increasing number of metal layers make conventional failure localization by using emission microscopy or liquid crystal inefficient. In this paper a SRAM failure analysis strategy will be presented independent on layout and technology.

Contributions of a Formal Analysis Metaprocess to Breakthrough Failure Analysis Results

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Ferrier ◽  
Kevin D. Martin ◽  
Donald Schulte
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Formal Analysis ◽  
Photon Emission ◽  
Flow Analysis ◽  
Formal Structure ◽  
Ic Design ◽  
Analysis Process ◽  
Secondary Failure ◽  
Leakage Failure ◽  
Wafer Manufacturing

Abstract Application of a formal Failure Analysis metaprocess to a stubborn yield loss problem provided a framework that ultimately facilitated a solution. Absence of results from conventional failure analysis techniques such as PEM (Photon Emission Microscopy) and liquid crystal microthermography frustrated early attempts to analyze this low-level supply leakage failure mode. Subsequently, a reorganized analysis team attacked the problem using a specific toplevel metaprocess.(1,a) Using the metaprocess, analysts generated a specific unique step-by-step analysis process in real time. Along the way, this approach encouraged the creative identification of secondary failure effects that provided repeated breakthroughs in the analysis flow. Analysis proceeded steadily toward the failure cause in spite of its character as a three-way interaction among factors in the IC design, mask generation, and wafer manufacturing processes. The metaprocess also provided the formal structure that, at the conclusion of the analysis, permitted a one-sheet summary of the failure's cause-effect relationships and the analysis flow leading to discovery of the anomaly. As with every application of this metaprocess, the resulting analysis flow simply represented an effective version of good failure analysis. The formal and flexible codification of the analysis decision-making process, however, provided several specific benefits, not least of which was the ability to proceed with high confidence that the problem could and would be solved. This paper describes the application of the metaprocess, and also the key measurements and causeeffect relationships in the analysis.

Failure Analysis Methodology on Resistive Open Defects

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.C.T. Quah ◽  
G.B. Ang ◽  
D. Nagalingam ◽  
C.Q. Chen ◽  
H.P. Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Photon Emission ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
Failure Path ◽  
Open Defect ◽  
Emission Microscopy ◽  
Open Defects ◽  
Logic Array ◽  
Failure Site

Abstract This paper describes the observation of photoemissions from saturated transistors along a connecting path with open defect in the logic array. By exploiting this characteristic phenomenon to distinguish open related issues, we described with 2 case studies using Photon Emission Microscopy, CAD navigation and layout tracing to identify the ‘open’ failure path. Further layout and EBAC analysis are then employed to effectively localize the failure site.

Verification of DLS Data by LVP in Case of Marginal Failure

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keonil Kim ◽  
Sungjin Kim ◽  
Kunjae Lee ◽  
Kyeongju Jin ◽  
Yunwoo Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Failure Mechanism ◽  
Fault Location ◽  
Photon Emission ◽  
Fault Localization ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
The Real ◽  
Defect Isolation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Non Destructive

Abstract In most of the non-destructive electrical fault isolation cases, techniques such as DLS, Photon Emission, LIT, OBIRCH indicate a fault location directly. But relying on just one of these techniques for marginal failure mechanism is not enough for better fault localization. When Failure Analysis (FA) engineers encounter high NDF (No Defect Found) rates, by using only one of the techniques, they may need to consider the relationship between the responded locations by different techniques and fail phenomenon for better defect isolation. This paper talks about how a responded DLS location does not always indicate a fault location and how LVP data collected using DLS location can pin point the real defect location.

Defect Localization Using Time-Resolved Photon Emission on SOI Devices that Fail Scan Tests

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Bodoh ◽  
Ed Black ◽  
Kris Dickson ◽  
Ron Wang ◽  
Tim Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Flip Chip ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Photon Emission ◽  
Silicon On Insulator ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Defect Localization ◽  
Emission System ◽  
Soi Devices ◽  
Practice Time

Abstract Time-resolved photon emission has been shown to be useful in analyzing clock skews and timing-related defects in flip-chip devices. In practice, time-resolved photon emission using the S-25 Quantar detector cannot be used at long loop lengths (typically >10 μs). This paper discusses a near-infrared (NIR) optimized time-resolved emission system to demonstrate that even with long loop lengths time-resolved photon emission can be extremely useful for defect localization. Specifically, it describes time-resolved photon emission system, and shows how time-resolved photon emission was used to solve two different issues that caused scan fails on silicon-on-insulator devices, and briefly discusses the interpretation of optical waveforms. The two issues are presented as case studies.

Failure Analysis of Sub-Micron Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Using Backside Photon Emission Microscopy

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soon Lim ◽  
Jian Hua Bi ◽  
Lian Choo Goh ◽  
Soh Ping Neo ◽  
Sudhindra Tatti
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Integrated Circuit ◽  
Flip Chip ◽  
Photon Emission ◽  
Fault Isolation ◽  
Integrated Circuit Fabrication ◽  
Circuit Fabrication ◽  
Emission Microscopy ◽  
On Chip

Abstract The progress of modern day integrated circuit fabrication technology and packaging has made fault isolation using conventional emission microscopy via the top of the integrated circuit more difficult, if not impossible. This is primarily due to the use of increased levels and density of metal-interconnect, and the advent of new packaging technology, e.g. flip-chip, ball-grid array and lead-on-chip, etc. Backside photon emission microscopy, i.e. performing photon emission microscopy through the bulk of the silicon via the back of the integrated circuit is a solution to this problem. This paper outlines the failure analysis of sub-micron silicon integrated circuits using backside photon emission microscopy. Sample preparation, practical difficulties encountered and case histories will be discussed.

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