Application of Electro Optical Terahertz Pulse Reflectometry for Fault Localization and Defect Analysis

Author(s):  
Yi-Sheng Lin ◽  
Yu-Hsiang Hsiao ◽  
Shu-Hua Lee

Abstract Electro Optical Terahertz Pulse Reflectometry (EOTPR) is an E-FA (Electrical Failure Analysis) technique in the semiconductor industry for non-destructive electrical fault isolation for shorts, leakages and opens. This paper introduces the capability and presents several case studies identifying the physical location of defects where EOTPR is useful as a non-destructive analysis technique. In this paper, the methodology and application of EOTPR on open and short failure isolations in advanced 2.5D IC and wafer level packages (WLP) have been presented. The experimental results of P-FA (Physical Failure Analysis) verify the accuracy of the EOTPR system in determining the distance to defect.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Sheng Lin ◽  
Yu-Hsiang Hsiao ◽  
Pei-Yu Tseng ◽  
Yu-Jen Chang ◽  
Cheng-Hsin Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract We develop a new workflow with O/S tester (Direct Current Tester, DCT) to detect quickly the defect location of failure packages, which can be used in the semiconductor industry for E-FA (Electrical Failure Analysis) fault localization for short, leakage, and open defects. This paper introduces the capability and presents two case studies identifying the defect location of solder balls where DCT with defect mapping function is useful as a non-destructive analysis technique. In this paper, the new methodology and application of DCT on open and short defects in various packages with different sizes have been presented. The experimental results of the design testing program and an intender tooling were verified for the accuracy of the defect mapping function in determining the pin location to defect.


Author(s):  
Dandan Wang ◽  
Hua Feng ◽  
Pik Kee Tan ◽  
Guorong Low ◽  
Khiam Oh Chong ◽  
...  

Abstract Focused Ion Beam is widely used in semiconductor industry for critical applications such as TEM sample preparation and circuit edit. In this paper, we introduce an automated failure analysis technique for high precision polishing at the wafer level. Using FIB, it is possible to precisely mill at a region of interest, capture images at the region of interest simultaneously and cut into the die directly to expose the exact failure without damaging other sections of the specimen.


Author(s):  
Jason Wheeler ◽  
Stephen Fasolino

Abstract Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) is an analysis technique for characterizing a transmission environment (PCB traces, cable assemblies, etc.) and identifying the physical location of defects or impedance discontinuities which can quickly narrow the focus of an investigation. This paper introduces the capability and presents several case studies spanning different applications where TDR was useful as a non-destructive analysis technique.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid de Wolf ◽  
Ahmad Khaled ◽  
Soon-Wook Kim ◽  
Soon-Wook Kim ◽  
Eric Beyne ◽  
...  

Abstract This paper demonstrates the application of GHz-SAM for the detection of local non-bonded regions between micron-sized Cu-pads in a wafer-to-wafer hybrid bonded sample. GHz-SAM is currently the only available non-destructive failure analysis technique that can offer this information on wafer level scale, with such high resolution.


Author(s):  
A. Orozco ◽  
J. Gaudestad ◽  
N.E. Gagliolo ◽  
C. Rowlett ◽  
E. Wong ◽  
...  

Abstract While transistor gate lengths may continue to shrink for some time, the semiconductor industry faces increasing difficulties to satisfy Moore’s Law. One solution to satisfying Moore’s Law in the future is to stack transistors in a 3-dimensional (3D) formation. In addition, the need for expanding functionality, real-estate management and faster connections has pushed the industry to develop complex 3D package technology which includes System-in-Package (SiP), wafer-level packaging, through-silicon-vias (TSV), stacked-die and flex packages. These stacks of microchips, metal layers and transistors have caused major challenges for existing Fault Isolation (FI) techniques. We describe in this paper innovations in Magnetic Field Imaging for FI which have the potential to allow 3D characterization of currents for non-destructive fault isolation at every chip level in a 3D stack.


Author(s):  
Andrew J. Komrowski ◽  
N. S. Somcio ◽  
Daniel J. D. Sullivan ◽  
Charles R. Silvis ◽  
Luis Curiel ◽  
...  

Abstract The use of flip chip technology inside component packaging, so called flip chip in package (FCIP), is an increasingly common package type in the semiconductor industry because of high pin-counts, performance and reliability. Sample preparation methods and flows which enable physical failure analysis (PFA) of FCIP are thus in demand to characterize defects in die with these package types. As interconnect metallization schemes become more dense and complex, access to the backside silicon of a functional device also becomes important for fault isolation test purposes. To address these requirements, a detailed PFA flow is described which chronicles the sample preparation methods necessary to isolate a physical defect in the die of an organic-substrate FCIP.


Author(s):  
C. Monachon ◽  
M.S. Zielinski ◽  
D. Gachet ◽  
S. Sonderegger ◽  
S. Muckenhirn ◽  
...  

Abstract Quantitative cathodoluminescence (CL) microscopy is a new optical spectroscopy technique that measures electron beam-induced optical emission over large field of view with a spatial resolution close to that of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Correlation of surface morphology (SE contrast) with spectrally resolved and highly material composition sensitive CL emission opens a new pathway in non-destructive failure and defect analysis at the nanometer scale. Here we present application of a modern CL microscope in defect and homogeneity metrology, as well as failure analysis in semiconducting electronic materials


Author(s):  
Sebastian Brand ◽  
Matthias Petzold ◽  
Peter Czurratis ◽  
Peter Hoffrogge

Abstract In industrial manufacturing of microelectronic components, non-destructive failure analysis methods are required for either quality control or for providing a rapid fault isolation and defect localization prior to detailed investigations requiring target preparation. Scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) is a powerful tool enabling the inspection of internal structures in optically opaque materials non-destructively. In addition, depth specific information can be employed for two- and three-dimensional internal imaging without the need of time consuming tomographic scan procedures. The resolution achievable by acoustic microscopy is depending on parameters of both the test equipment and the sample under investigation. However, if applying acoustic microscopy for pure intensity imaging most of its potential remains unused. The aim of the current work was the development of a comprehensive analysis toolbox for extending the application of SAM by employing its full potential. Thus, typical case examples representing different fields of application were considered ranging from high density interconnect flip-chip devices over wafer-bonded components to solder tape connectors of a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel. The progress achieved during this work can be split into three categories: Signal Analysis and Parametric Imaging (SA-PI), Signal Analysis and Defect Evaluation (SA-DE) and Image Processing and Resolution Enhancement (IP-RE). Data acquisition was performed using a commercially available scanning acoustic microscope equipped with several ultrasonic transducers covering the frequency range from 15 MHz to 175 MHz. The acoustic data recorded were subjected to sophisticated algorithms operating in time-, frequency- and spatial domain for performing signal- and image analysis. In all three of the presented applications acoustic microscopy combined with signal- and image processing algorithms proved to be a powerful tool for non-destructive inspection.


Author(s):  
Sarven Ipek ◽  
David Grosjean

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.


Author(s):  
A. Orozco ◽  
N.E. Gagliolo ◽  
C. Rowlett ◽  
E. Wong ◽  
A. Moghe ◽  
...  

Abstract The need to increase transistor packing density beyond Moore's Law and the need for expanding functionality, realestate management and faster connections has pushed the industry to develop complex 3D package technology which includes System-in-Package (SiP), wafer-level packaging, through-silicon-vias (TSV), stacked-die and flex packages. These stacks of microchips, metal layers and transistors have caused major challenges for existing Fault Isolation (FI) techniques and require novel non-destructive, true 3D Failure Localization techniques. We describe in this paper innovations in Magnetic Field Imaging for FI that allow current 3D mapping and extraction of geometrical information about current location for non-destructive fault isolation at every chip level in a 3D stack.


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