Methodology for characterization of high-speed multi-conductor metal interconnections and evaluation of measurement errors

Analysis and design of interconnects in high speed integrated circuits and systems involves models in the form of multiconductor transmission lines. The fundamental parameters of those models are matrices of capacitance, (C), inductance, (L), resistance, (R), and conductance (G). We present a methodology for measurement of entries in capacitance matrix. The entries of capacitance matrices can be calculated using numerical solvers of electrostatic fields established under the assumption of suitable biasing of interconnect structures. Numerical calculations of complete field equations are very complex and expensive in terms of computer time, therefore several approximations are made in constructing interconnect dedicated software packages available on the market. Because of these approximations it is necessary to validate the calculations via measurements. Calculation of the off-diagonal entries of capacitance matrix from measurements of "two-terminal" capacitances is strongly corrupted by the measuring errors. The method involves direct capacitance measurement in multi-conductor structures and provides analysis of accuracy.