Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inspection apparatus, for a semiconductor integrated- circuit device, which reduces the influence of a noise and which uses laser optical pulses. SOLUTION: A laser is used to inspect a specimen semiconductor integrated- circuit device. A single laser optical pulse from one laser light source is split into two optical pulses, and both of the two optical pulses are made incident on the device to be inspected. The two optical pulses are separated after their interaction with the device to be inspected, and the optical pulses are detected by two photodetectors. Two outputs from the photodetectors are subtracted mutually. By their subtraction, a common-mode which is induced by the two pulses such as a noise caused by the mechanical vibration of the device to be inspected, various noises from the laser light source or the like is erased. Their difference signal is used to extract a time change signal in the device to be inspected.
Abstract:
A laser beam is used to probe an integrated circuit device under test. A single laser provides a single laser pulse which is divided into two pulses, both of which are incident upon the device under test. After the two pulses interact with the device under test, the two pulses are separated and detected by two photo detectors. The electrical signals output by the photo detectors are then subtracted, which cancels out any common mode noise induced on both pulses including noise due to mechanical vibration of the device under test and also any noise from the laser. The difference signal can be used to reproduce a time varying signal in the device under test.
Abstract:
A reliable, inexpensive "back side" thinning process, capable of globally thinning an integrated circuit die (4) to a target thickness of 10 microns, and maintaining a yield of at least 80%, for chip repair and/or failure analysis of the packaged die. The flip-chip packaged die is exposed at its backside (10) and mounted on a lapping machine (14) with the backside exposed. The thickness of the die is measured at at least five locations on the die. The lapping machine grinds the exposed surface of the die to a thickness somewhat greater than the target thickness. The exposed surface of the die is polished. The thickness of the die is again measured optically with high accuracy. Based on the thickness data collected, appropriate machine operating parameters for further grinding and polishing of the exposed surface are determined. Further grinding and polishing are performed. These steps are repeated until the target thickness is reached.
Abstract:
Methods for integrated circuit diagnosis, characterization or modification using a charged particle beam. In one implementation, the bulk silicon substrate of an integrated circuit is thinned to about 1 to 3 mu m from the deepset well, a voltage is applied to a circuit element that is beneath the outer surface of the thinned substrate. The applied voltage induces an electrical potential on the outer surface, which is detected as a surface feature on the outer surface by its interaction with the charged particle beam.