Title : 
Random GaAs IC´s ESD failures caused by RF test handler
         
        
            Author : 
Anand, Y. ; Crowe, Dana ; Feinberg, Alec ; Jones, Chris
         
        
            Author_Institution : 
M/A-COM Inc., Lowell, MA, USA
         
        
        
        
        
        
            Abstract : 
This paper describes a case study of GaAs IC ESD failures caused in a RF test handler. The test handler caused yield problems compared with another tester. A small insulator inside the test fixture assembly was found to generate up to 200 volt ESD pulses, causing sporadic device failures. This problem was resolved by replacing the insulator with a piece of static dissipative material. In this paper, we present tester investigation and evaluation, material investigation, experimental results, and conclusions from production follow-up.
         
        
            Keywords : 
III-V semiconductors; MMIC; electrostatic discharge; failure analysis; gallium arsenide; insulator testing; integrated circuit testing; integrated circuit yield; materials handling; production testing; test equipment; 200 V; ESD pulse generation; GaAs; GaAs IC ESD failures; IC yield; RF test handler; insulator; insulator replacement; material investigation; random GaAs IC ESD failures; sporadic device failures; static dissipative material; test fixture assembly; tester investigation; Assembly; Electrostatic discharge; Fixtures; Gallium arsenide; Insulation; Insulator testing; Integrated circuit testing; Pulse generation; Radio frequency; Radiofrequency integrated circuits;
         
        
        
        
            Conference_Titel : 
Electrical Overstress/Electrostatic Discharge Symposium Proceedings 2000
         
        
            Conference_Location : 
Anaheim, CA, USA
         
        
            Print_ISBN : 
1-58537-018-5
         
        
        
            DOI : 
10.1109/EOSESD.2000.890107