Title :
Logic characterization vehicle to determine process variation impact on yield and performance of digital circuits
Author :
Hess, Christopher ; Stine, Brian E. ; Weiland, Larg H. ; Sawada, Kazuhiro
Author_Institution :
PDF Solutions Inc., San Jose, CA, USA
Abstract :
Manufacturing of integrated circuits relies on the sequence of many hundred process steps. Each of these steps will have more or less variation, which has to be within a,certain limit to guarantee the chips functionality at a target speed. But, not every chip layout is susceptive to process variation the same way, which requires a link between process,capabilities and product design. This paper will present a novel Logic Characterization Vehicle (LCV) to investigate the yield and performance impact of process variation on high volume product chips. The LCV combines and manipulates new or already documented circuits like memory cells and combinatorial logic circuits within a JIG interface that allows fast and easy testability. Beside the functionality of such circuits, also path delay as well as cross talk issues can be determined. A standard digital functional tester can be used, since all timing critical measurements will be performed within the JIG. The described method allows early implementation of existing circuits for future technology nodes (shrinks). A Design Of Experiments (DOE) based implementation of possible layout manipulations will determine their impact on yield and performance of a target design as well as its sensitivity to process variation. The described approach can be used at a much earlier stage of product and process development, which will significantly shorten yield ramp.
Keywords :
automatic testing; combinational circuits; crosstalk; delay estimation; design of experiments; digital integrated circuits; integrated circuit layout; integrated circuit testing; integrated circuit yield; logic testing; production testing; DOE based implementation; IC manufacturing; JIG interface; JIG test; combinatorial logic circuits; cross talk standard digital functional tester; design of experiments; digital circuit performance; digital circuit yield; high volume product chips; layout manipulations; logic characterization vehicle; memory cells; path delay; process variation impact determination; testability; timing critical measurements; Circuit testing; Delay; Digital circuits; Integrated circuit manufacture; Integrated circuit yield; Logic circuits; Logic testing; Manufacturing processes; Product design; Vehicles;
Conference_Titel :
Microelectronic Test Structures, 2002. ICMTS 2002. Proceedings of the 2002 International Conference on
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7464-9
DOI :
10.1109/ICMTS.2002.1193195