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US6028994A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for predicting performance of microelectronic device based on electrical parameter test data using computer model

Assignee: GlobalFoundries Inc
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Filing: 1998-05-06
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Granted: 2000-02-22
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Expires: 2018-05-06
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Abstract

Abstract Electrical parameter testing and performance testing are performed on a plurality of microelectronic devices to obtain parametric values and performance values respectively. The parametric values are applied as inputs to a computer program such as a back propagation neural network engine which generates a performance prediction model by self-learning that implements a function relating the performance values to the parametric values. The model is used to predict the performance of devices being fabricated by performing electrical parameter testing on these devices and applying the resulting parametric values to the model as inputs to produce predicted performance values as outputs. The model can be configured to produce predicted performance values as percentages of devices having speed or other parameters in predetermined respective ranges. The model can be further configured to produce predicted performance values as percentages of devices having different types of defects. The model can be improved by self-learning using additional test values. The model can also be used to identify parameters which result in low performance and improve devices being fabricated by adjusting the corresponding process parameters.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yeng-Kaung Peng
  • 👤 Chern-Jiann Lee
  • 👤 Siu-May Ho

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 12:55
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P74/00; H10P74/23; G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/30

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim 107 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) performing electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices to obtain parametric values; (b) performing performance testing of said plurality of devices to obtain performance values; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; and (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the performance prediction model; in which step (c) comprises providing the program as a neural network engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 107 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) performing electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices to obtain parametric values; (b) performing performance testing of said plurality of devices to obtain performance values; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; and (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the performance prediction model; in which step (c) comprises providing the program as a neural network engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as in claim 1, in which step (c) comprises providing the program as a back propagation neural network engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step, performed before step (d), of: (e) normalizing the parametric values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method as in claim 1, in which step (b) comprises performing speed testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including speed values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
A method as in claim 4, in which step (d) comprises configuring the program to produce the performance prediction model such that the speed values are output in the form of a percentage of devices having a speed value in a predetermined range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 147 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) performing electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices to obtain parametric values; (b) performing performance testing of said plurality of devices to obtain performance values; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; and (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the performance prediction model, in which: step (b) comprises performing speed testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including speed values; and step (d) comprises configuring the program to produce the performance prediction model such that the speed values are output in the form of percentages of devices having speed values in predetermined respective ranges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 147 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) performing electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices to obtain parametric values; (b) performing performance testing of said plurality of devices to obtain performance values; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; and (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the performance prediction model, in which: step (b) comprises performing speed testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including speed values; and step (d) comprises configuring the program to produce the performance prediction model such that the speed values are output in the form of percentages of devices having speed values in predetermined respective ranges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
A method as in claim 1, in which step (b) comprises performing reject testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including a reject value in the form of a percentage of devices of a predetermined reject type.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method as in claim 7, in which step (b) comprises performing speed testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including speed values.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 43 words
A method as in claim 8, in which step (d) comprises configuring the program to produce the performance prediction model such that the speed values are output in the form of a percentage of devices having a speed value in a predetermined range.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 128 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) performing electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices to obtain parametric values; (b) performing performance testing of said plurality of devices to obtain performance values; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; and (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the Performance Prediction model, in which: step (b) comprises performing reject testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including a plurality of reject values in the form of percentages of devices of predetermined respective reject types.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 128 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) performing electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices to obtain parametric values; (b) performing performance testing of said plurality of devices to obtain performance values; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; and (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the Performance Prediction model, in which: step (b) comprises performing reject testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including a plurality of reject values in the form of percentages of devices of predetermined respective reject types.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 160 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) performing electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices to obtain parametric values; (b) performing performance testing of said plurality of devices to obtain performance values; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the performance prediction model; (e) performing electrical parameter testing of an additional plurality of devices to obtain additional parametric values; (f) running the program on the computer using the performance prediction model with the additional parametric values as inputs to obtain predicted performance values as outputs which constitute a prediction of the performance of the additional devices; and (g) isolating parametric values which, if different, would produce higher predicted performance values.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 160 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) performing electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices to obtain parametric values; (b) performing performance testing of said plurality of devices to obtain performance values; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the performance prediction model; (e) performing electrical parameter testing of an additional plurality of devices to obtain additional parametric values; (f) running the program on the computer using the performance prediction model with the additional parametric values as inputs to obtain predicted performance values as outputs which constitute a prediction of the performance of the additional devices; and (g) isolating parametric values which, if different, would produce higher predicted performance values.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 72 words
A method as in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: (e) performing electrical parameter testing of an additional plurality of devices to obtain additional parametric values; (f) performing performance testing of the additional plurality of devices to obtain additional performance values; and (g) running the program on the computer with the additional parametric values as inputs and the additional performance values as outputs to improve the performance prediction model by self-learning.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 107 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining parametric values resulting from electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices; (b) obtaining performance values resulting from performance testing of said plurality of devices; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; and (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the performance prediction model, in which: step (c) comprises providing the program as a neural network engine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 107 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining parametric values resulting from electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices; (b) obtaining performance values resulting from performance testing of said plurality of devices; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; and (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the performance prediction model, in which: step (c) comprises providing the program as a neural network engine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as in claim 13, in which step (c) comprises providing the program as a back propagation neural network engine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method as in claim 13, further comprising the step, performed before step (d), of: (e) normalizing the parametric values.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method as in claim 13, in which step (b) comprises performing speed testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including speed values.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 43 words
A method as in claim 16, in which step (d) comprises configuring the program to produce the performance prediction model such that the speed values are output in the form of a percentage of devices having a speed value in a predetermined range.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 147 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining parametric values resulting from electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices; (b) obtaining performance values resulting from performance testing of said plurality of devices; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; and (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the performance Prediction model, in which: step (b) comprises performing speed testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including speed values; and step (d) comprises configuring the program to produce the performance prediction model such that the speed values are output in the form of percentages of devices having speed values in predetermined respective ranges.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 147 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining parametric values resulting from electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices; (b) obtaining performance values resulting from performance testing of said plurality of devices; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; and (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the performance Prediction model, in which: step (b) comprises performing speed testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including speed values; and step (d) comprises configuring the program to produce the performance prediction model such that the speed values are output in the form of percentages of devices having speed values in predetermined respective ranges.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 39 words
A method as in claim 13, in which step (b) comprises performing reject testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including a reject value in the form of a percentage of devices of a predetermined reject type.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method as in claim 19, in which step (b) comprises performing speed testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including speed values.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 43 words
A method as in claim 20, in which step (d) comprises configuring the program to produce the performance prediction model such that the speed values are output in the form of a percentage of devices having a speed value in a predetermined range.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 128 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining parametric values resulting from electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices; (b) obtaining performance values resulting from performance testing of said plurality of devices; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; and (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the Performance prediction model, in which: step (b) comprises performing reject testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including a plurality of reject values in the form of percentages of devices of predetermined respective reject types.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 128 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining parametric values resulting from electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices; (b) obtaining performance values resulting from performance testing of said plurality of devices; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; and (d) running the program on a computer with the parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the Performance prediction model, in which: step (b) comprises performing reject testing of devices to obtain the performance values as including a plurality of reject values in the form of percentages of devices of predetermined respective reject types.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 160 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining Parametric values resulting from electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices; (b) obtaining Performance values resulting from performance testing of said plurality of devices; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; (d) running the program on a computer with the Parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the performance prediction model; (e) performing electrical parameter testing of an additional plurality of devices to obtain additional parametric values; (f) running the program on the computer using the performance prediction model with the additional parametric values as inputs to obtain predicted performance values as outputs which constitute a prediction of the performance of the additional devices; and (g) isolating parametric values which, if different, would produce higher predicted performance values.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 160 words
A computer implemented method for producing a performance prediction model for a microelectronic device, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining Parametric values resulting from electrical parameter testing of a plurality of devices; (b) obtaining Performance values resulting from performance testing of said plurality of devices; (c) providing a computer program which produces a computer model that implements a function relating outputs to inputs; (d) running the program on a computer with the Parametric values as inputs and the performance values as outputs to produce a computer model which constitutes the performance prediction model; (e) performing electrical parameter testing of an additional plurality of devices to obtain additional parametric values; (f) running the program on the computer using the performance prediction model with the additional parametric values as inputs to obtain predicted performance values as outputs which constitute a prediction of the performance of the additional devices; and (g) isolating parametric values which, if different, would produce higher predicted performance values.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 72 words
A method as in claim 22, further comprising the steps of: (e) performing electrical parameter testing of an additional plurality of devices to obtain additional parametric values; (f) performing performance testing of the additional plurality of devices to obtain additional performance values; and (g) running the program on the computer with the additional parametric values as inputs and the additional performance values as outputs to improve the performance prediction model by self-learning.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5070469A Cited
US5438527A Cited
US5418974A Cited
US5539652A Cited
US5719796A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-02-21 2003-08-23 2004-02-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-02-21 2007-08-23 2008-02-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-02-21 2011-08-23 2012-02-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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