Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a laser is directed at a target region of a powered semiconductor device via the back side of the device, and active circuitry is selectively excited. In response to the excited circuitry, target circuitry is monitored and a degree of integrity of the operation of the semiconductor device is determined, for example, by detecting the output s/phase characteristics or by monitoring passive emissions from the device. The invention is particularly advantageous in connection with post-manufacture failure analysis.

Abstract: Analysis of a semiconductor die having silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure is enhanced by accessing the circuitry within the die from the back side without breaching the thin insulator layer of the SOI structure. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a portion of substrate is removed from the back side of a semiconductor die having a SOI structure and a backside opposite circuitry in a circuit side. Electrical connection is made to a portion of the circuitry within the die via a capacitive coupling arrangement. The electrical connection is used to obtain an electrical measurement correlated with circuitry logic states of the die that is used for analysis.

Abstract: Analysis of a semiconductor die having silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure is enhanced by capacitively coupling a signal to the die. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a die having a thinned back side is analyzed by capacitively coupling an input signal through the insulator portion of the SOI structure and effecting a state change to circuitry in the die. The state change is used to evaluate a characteristic of the die, such as by detecting a response to the state change. The ability to force such a state change is helpful for evaluating dies having SOI structure, and is particularly useful for evaluation techniques that require or benefit from maintaining the insulator portion of the SOI structure intact.

Abstract: A system and method provides for effective analysis of an integrated circuit having silicon on insulator (SOI) structure. According to one example embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a system (e.g., a nanomachining arrangement) adapted to remove a selected portion of the backside of a semiconductor device having SOI structure, and to electrically isolate a selected portion of circuitry on the SOI semiconductor device circuitry side. The isolated circuitry then is analyzed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit manufacturing approach involves using a solar cell and facilitating post-manufacturing analysis. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a solar cell is formed in an integrated circuit device and coupled to target circuitry in the device. The solar cell is activated and provides power to the target circuitry. In response to the solar cell providing power to the target circuitry, the integrated circuit is analyzed.

Abstract: Defect detection for post-manufacturing analysis of an integrated circuit die is enhanced via a method and system that use IR thermography to detect defects in circuitry within the die. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, substrate is removed from an integrated circuit die and a target region is exposed. A portion of the target region is heated with an infrared (IR) laser beam, and the die is imaged using IR thermography. The image is compared with a reference image, and damage to the integrated circuit is detected therefrom.

Abstract: A circuit modification tool and method for a flip-chip IC permits access to circuit regions near the interconnects using an aperture formed through the circuit side. In one embodiment, an etching tool is adapted to remove substrate from the backside of the semiconductor devices and to form a via into the circuit side and beyond a first region in the circuitry. A depth indicating the location of the first region is determined, and a focused ion-beam generator is used to modify a second region in the circuit side using the via for access. After the modification, the first region is rebuilt using the via for access.

Abstract: Access to portions of semiconductor devices is enhanced via a method and system for probing between circuitry in the semiconductor device during post-manufacture analysis of the semiconductor device. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an elongated conductive via probe is formed in a semiconductor device having circuitry in a circuit side opposite a back side. The probe is formed by first removing substrate from the semiconductor device and forming an exposed region over a target node between circuitry in the device. A narrow conductor is then formed for accessing the target node, with the conductor and extending between the circuitry and into the back side and forming the elongated conductive via probe. The probe is accessed and used for analyzing the device. In this manner, access to a difficult-to-reach target node, such as a node between closely-placed transistors, is facilitated.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a semiconductor device having a back side and a circuit side opposite the back side is analyzed. The semiconductor device includes bulk silicon in the back side and also includes epitaxial silicon. An ion gas comprising SF6 and N2 is directed at a target region in the back side. Using the ion gas, the target region in the back side is selectively etched using reactive ion etching (RIE) and an exposed region is formed. The etching is selective to the bulk silicon. When the etching process encounters the epitaxial silicon, the etch rate slows and is used as an endpoint indicator of the selective etching process. Once the etching process is stopped, the circuitry is accessed via the exposed region.

Abstract: The ability to excite virtually any portion of semiconductor device is enhanced via a grid formed for exciting circuitry in the semiconductor device. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a grid having a plurality of narrow probe points is formed extending over target circuitry in a semiconductor device. The grid is accessed and used for exciting various target circuitry within the device by exciting the part of the grid that corresponds to the portion of the target circuitry to which access is desired.

Abstract: Substrate removal for post-manufacturing analysis of a semiconductor device is enhanced via a method and system that use sonic energy in the control of the removal process. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, sonic energy is reflected off of a region of a semiconductor chip having a portion of substrate removed from the back side of the chip. The reflections are detected and used to determine the thickness of substrate in the back side. In this manner, the substrate removal process can be efficiently and accurately controlled.

Abstract: A resistance monitoring approach is used for removing substrate from a back side of a semiconductor device. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, substrate is removed from a semiconductor device having a circuit side opposite the back side and a resistance path in silicon substrate. The change in resistance of the resistance path is monitored. The change in resistance provides an indication of the progress of the substrate removal process. Using the change in resistance, the substrate removal process is controlled.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for post-manufacturing analysis of a semiconductor device including a die in a semiconductor device package. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the package is removed and the die is exposed. Conductive ions are impregnated in a region of the die and a diode is formed. Using the formed diode, target circuitry within the die is analyzed. In this manner, a diode can be formed and used for purposes such as testing or repairing a die.

Abstract: Current reactive ion etching (RIE) techniques are not applicable to back side etching of semiconductor devices. According to an example embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method for analyzing a semiconductor device having a back side and a circuit side opposite the back side. An ion gas including SF6 and N2 is directed at a target region in the back side. Using the ion gas, the target region is etched using reactive ion etching (RIE). An exposed region is formed, and circuitry in the device is accessed via the exposed region. The use of the ion gas enables back side RIE that is capable of producing an etched surface that is usable for back side access.

Abstract: Substrate removal for post-manufacturing analysis of a semiconductor device is enhanced via a method and system that utilizes ion beam etching, to etch the backside of a semiconductor chip, and utilizes SIMS as a detection technique to not only control removal of the substrate from the backside of the chip but also to determine the endpoint of the removal process. In an example embodiment there is described a method for removing substrate from the backside of a semiconductor chip as a function of detected concentration levels of a selected substrate material that is sputtered off of a region of the substrate.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure, the present invention provides methods and arrangements for testing a flip chip semiconductor device after the back side of the chip has been thinned to expose a selected region in the substrate. For some chips, thinning removes substrate material useful for drawing heat away from the internal circuitry when the circuitry is running at high speeds. To compensate for this material loss, as plurality of thermally conductive elements is formed in the backside of the semiconductor to draw heat from the backside of the device when the semiconductor device is activated.

Abstract: Post-manufacturing analysis of a semiconductor device is enhanced via a method and system that use a light emitting diode (LED) formed in a semiconductor die during its manufacture. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a LED is formed within a semiconductor die having a circuit side opposite a back side. A conductor is formed that extends from the LED to the back side of the die, and is coupled to a terminal formed on the back side. The LED is activated via the terminal and used to align the die for analysis. By forming a LED within the semiconductor die during its manufacture, post manufacturing analysis is enhanced by the alignment capabilities provided by the readily activated LED.

Abstract: A substrate removal approach involves sensing acoustic energy in a semiconductor device as a function of substrate thickness in the device as substrate is being removed. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor chip having substrate at a back side that is opposite circuitry at a circuit side is analyzed. Some or all of the substrate in the back side of the semiconductor chip is removed, and a thinned region having a bottom area is formed. A laser is directed to the bottom area, and a thermal parameter characterizing target circuitry in the device is detected in response to the laser. The detected parameter is used and an indication of the remaining substrate thickness between the bottom area and the circuitry is determined. In response to the indicated thickness, the substrate removal process is controlled, making possible effective control of the substrate removal process.

Abstract: A substrate removal approach involves sensing acoustic energy in an integrated circuit as a function of substrate in the integrated circuit being removed. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a method for substrate removal includes removing a portion of substrate from the back side of a semiconductor chip circuitry near a circuit side and opposite the back side. The substrate is removed as a function of detected acoustic energy propagating through the device. The detected acoustic energy can be correlated to a parameter and used for controlling the substrate removal process, improving the ability to efficiently and accurately test semiconductor devices.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure, the present invention provides methods and arrangements for testing a flip chip semiconductor device after the back side of the chip has been thinned to expose a selected region in the substrate. For some chips, thinning removes substrate material useful for drawing heat away from the internal circuitry when the circuitry is running at high speeds. To compensate for this material loss, a special test fixture having a heat-dissipating device is arranged to draw heat from the device.