Abstract: A method, computer program product and system for assessing the impact of anomalies in a physical device. An anomaly may be detected in an integrated circuit. Upon detecting an anomaly, an image of the anomaly may be captured. A design layout of the image may be obtained. The image coordinates of the detected anomaly may be transformed into a common reference system, such as the design layout. By using a common unit of reference instead of different reference systems, automatic coordination of the integrated circuit and the design layout may have to be performed once instead of multiple times for multiple tools. The image coordinates of the detected anomaly may be transformed to the coordinates of a common reference system by vectorizing the image, matching polygons in both the image and the design layout and aligning the image of the anomaly with the design layout of the image.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for translating detected wafer defect coordinates to reticle coordinates using CAD data. A wafer inspection image is provided and coordinates of potential defects in the wafer are determined. Then the wafer inspection image is converted into a predetermined image format. CAD data for the device under test is then used to produce a second image, also in the predetermined image format. The CAD-derived image and the wafer-derived image are then aligned, and the coordinates of potential defects in the wafer are converted into CAD coordinates. The CAD coordinates are then used to navigate through the reticle for the wafer in order to locate reticle defects corresponding to the detected wafer defects.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for translating detected wafer defect coordinates to reticle coordinates using CAD data. A wafer inspection image is provided and coordinates of potential defects in the wafer are determined. Then the wafer inspection image is converted into a predetermined image format. CAD data for the device under test is then used to produce a second image, also in the predetermined image format. The CAD-derived image and the wafer-derived image are then aligned, and the coordinates of potential defects in the wafer are converted into CAD coordinates. The CAD coordinates are then used to navigate through the reticle for the wafer in order to locate reticle defects corresponding to the detected wafer defects.

Abstract: A method (100) to manufacture semiconductor reticles associated with a design uses an optical pattern correction (OPC) test pattern (104) in a first reticle frame and having subresolution features that will not resolve or appear on a resulting wafer. A first reticle is made (106) and critical parameters are extracted from the first reticle (108). The critical parameters are used to execute an OPC model (112) to generate a modified design. A production reticle is made from the modified design. The OPC test pattern is placed in a second reticle frame and a second reticle is manufactured. Critical parameters from the second reticle are compared with the critical parameters from the first reticle and must be within a predetermined tolerance or the reticle build process is modified until the tolerance is reached.

Abstract: A technique is described for providing cavities between the conducting paths of an integrated semiconductor circuit. These cavities can have air or a gas trapped therein to decrease the dielectric constant between two conducting paths. After forming the conducting paths, an etchable fill material formed between and over the conducting paths. An oxide cap is formed over the fill material. Conducting plugs, extending through the fill material and the oxide cap, and electrically coupled to the conducting paths are formed. A photo-resist layer applied over the conducting plugs and the oxide cap. The photo-resist layer is structured to permit access to the oxide cap between the conducting plugs. A “pin-hole” is fabricated through the oxide cap and the fill material exposed by the “pin-hole” is etched away. The “pin-hole” is plugged with additional oxide cap material and a surface is then formed on the oxide cap exposing the conducting plugs.

Abstract: A technique is described for providing cavities between the conducting paths of an integrated semiconductor circuit. These cavities can have air or a gas trapped therein to decrease the dielectric constant between two conducting paths. After forming the conducting paths, an etchable fill material formed between and over the conducting paths. An oxide cap is formed over the fill material. Conducting plugs, extending through the fill material and the oxide cap, and electrically coupled to the conducting paths are formed. A photo-resist layer applied over the conducting plugs and the oxide cap. The photo-resist layer is structured to permit access to the oxide cap between the conducting plugs. A “pin-hole” is fabricated through the oxide cap and the fill material exposed by the “pin-hole” is etched away. The “pin-hole” is plugged with additional oxide cap material and a surface is then formed on the oxide cap exposing the conducting plugs.