US5959462A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Test structure for enabling burn-in testing on an entire semiconductor wafer
Assignee: NXP USA Inc
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Filing: 1997-09-08
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Granted: 1999-09-28
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Expires: 2017-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A test structure and test methodology are taught herein wherein a test structure (10) is used to test an entire integrated circuit product wafer (44). The test structure (10) has a backing support wafer (39). A die attach compound (38) is used to attach a plurality of segmented individual test integrated circuits 28-34 to the backing support wafer (39). The plurality of test integrated circuits 28-34 have a top conductive bump layer (26). This conductive bump layer (26) is contacted to a thin film signal distribution layer (14) which contains conductive interconnects, conductive layers, and dielectric layers which route electrical signals as illustrated in FIG. 2. The layer 14 also conductively connects to bumps (46) on a product wafer (44). In addition, leads (40) are coupled to conductive elements of the layer (14). An external tester is coupled via leads (40) to the integrated circuits (28) and (34) whereby the integrated circuits (28-34) burn-in or test integrated circuits on the product wafer (44) in an efficient and effective manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Francis Lum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/282; G01R31/2831; G01R31/2851; G01R31/2886; G01R31/2855; G01R31/2856; H; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/851; H10W72/874; H10W72/877; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/721; H10W90/724
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A test structure comprising: a backing support wafer having a substantially circular shape and being made of a semiconductive material; a plurality of segmented test integrated circuits coupled to the backing support wafer, the segmented test integrated circuits containing semiconductor logic circuitry; a signal distribution film coupled to the plurality of segmented test integrated circuits; leads coupled to the signal distribution film wherein the leads are adapted to be coupled to a tester; wherein the signal distribution film contains conductive regions which are used to communicate electrical signals from the semiconductor circuitry located on plurality of segmented test integrated circuits.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A test structure comprising: a backing support wafer having a substantially circular shape and being made of a semiconductive material; a plurality of segmented test integrated circuits coupled to the backing support wafer, the segmented test integrated circuits containing semiconductor logic circuitry; a signal distribution film coupled to the plurality of segmented test integrated circuits; leads coupled to the signal distribution film wherein the leads are adapted to be coupled to a tester; wherein the signal distribution film contains conductive regions which are used to communicate electrical signals from the semiconductor circuitry located on plurality of segmented test integrated circuits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The test structure of claim 1 wherein the backing support wafer is coupled to the plurality of segmented test integrated circuits via a die attach material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The test structure of claim 1 wherein the signal distribution film is used to allow an external tester to communicate electrical signals to the plurality of segmented test integrated circuits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The test structure of claim 1 wherein a product wafer containing product integrated circuits is coupled to the signal distribution film wherein the plurality of segmented test integrated circuits are used to stimulate the product integrated circuits through the signal distribution film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The test structure of claim 1 wherein conductive bumps are used to connect the signal distribution film to the plurality of segmented test integrated circuits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The test structure of claim 5 wherein a fill material is formed between the conductive bumps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The test structure of claim 1 wherein adjacent segmented test integrated circuits in the plurality of segmented test integrated circuits are separated by gaps wherein these gaps are filled with a fill material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The test structure of claim 1 wherein an epoxy material is positioned in contact with the leads to mechanically strengthen the leads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The test structure of claim 1 wherein the signal distribution film is one or more conductive layers encapsulated by dielectric material, the dielectric material having openings to expose contact points of the one or more conductive layers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
The test structure of claim 1 wherein the signal distribution film comprises: a silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate having both a top and underlying surface, the top surface being semiconductive and the underlying surface being a dielectric material; and transistors formed on the top surface of the silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate wherein conductive contact areas are provided via first conductive regions above the transistors and second conductive regions formed through the underlying surface of the silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
The test structure of claim 10 wherein: (1) the transistors have gate electrodes which are formed from a first conductive layer; (2) the gate electrodes are coupled to a second conductive layer formed separately from the first conductive layer; and (3) the first conductive regions are formed by the formation of a third conductive layer which is formed separately from both the first and second conductive layers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The test structure of claim 10 wherein the comprises: an integrated circuit having a top conductive layer, the top conductive layer of the integrated circuit being coupled to the transistors via the conductive contact areas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The test structure of claim 12 further comprising: packaging material adjacent the integrated circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
141 words
A test structure comprising: a silicon support mold wafer; a plurality of test integrated circuits, each test integrated circuit in the plurality of test integrated circuits having a back side which is coupled to the silicon support mold wafer by die attach compound, each test integrated circuit within the plurality of test integrated circuits also having a top side which has conductive bumps; a signal distribution film having at top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface having exposed conductive test integrated circuit contact areas which are coupled to the conductive bumps of the plurality of test integrated circuits, and the bottom surface having exposed conductive product wafer areas which are adapted to be coupled to a product wafer containing product integrated circuits; and a plurality of conductive leads coupled to exposed conductive lead areas of the signal distribution film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
141 words
A test structure comprising: a silicon support mold wafer; a plurality of test integrated circuits, each test integrated circuit in the plurality of test integrated circuits having a back side which is coupled to the silicon support mold wafer by die attach compound, each test integrated circuit within the plurality of test integrated circuits also having a top side which has conductive bumps; a signal distribution film having at top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface having exposed conductive test integrated circuit contact areas which are coupled to the conductive bumps of the plurality of test integrated circuits, and the bottom surface having exposed conductive product wafer areas which are adapted to be coupled to a product wafer containing product integrated circuits; and a plurality of conductive leads coupled to exposed conductive lead areas of the signal distribution film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The test structure of claim 14 further comprising: fill material located between the signal distribution film and the plurality of test integrated circuits.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The test structure of claim 14 further comprising: the product wafer coupled to the exposed conductive product wafer areas via conductive bumps attached to the product wafer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The test structure of claim 14 further comprising: an external tester coupled to the conductive leads.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The test structure of claim 14 further comprising: a dielectric peripheral material formed around a periphery of silicon support mold wafer and in contact with the plurality of conductive leads to support the plurality of conductive leads.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
94 words
The test structure of claim 14 wherein the signal distribution film further comprises: a first layer of metal which is used to form the exposed conductive test integrated circuit contact areas of the first distribution film; a second layer of metal which is used to form the exposed conductive product wafer areas of the first distribution film; a inter-level dielectric layer between the first and second layers of metal; and openings formed through the inter-level dielectric layer, the openings containing metal material which electrically connects the first metal layer to the second metal layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The test structure of claim 19 wherein the signal distribution film further comprises: conductive lines formed from one of either the first or second layers of metal wherein the conductive lines couple the plurality of conductive leads to the plurality of test integrated circuits.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The test structure of claim 19 wherein the signal distribution film further comprises: conductive lines formed from one of either the first or second layers of metal wherein the conductive lines are adapted to couple the plurality of conductive leads to the product wafer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The test structure of claim 14 wherein the signal distribution film further comprises: active electrical circuitry formed within the signal distribution film and coupled to at least one of either the exposed conductive product wafer areas or the exposed conductive test integrated circuit contact areas.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-27 | 2003-03-29 | 2003-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-27 | 2007-03-29 | 2007-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-27 | 2011-03-29 | 2011-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |