Abstract: Various semiconductor devices and methods of testing such devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a bore from a backside of a semiconductor chip through a buried insulating layer and to a semiconductor device layer of the semiconductor chip. A conductor structure is formed in the bore to establish an electrically conductive pathway between the semiconductor device layer and the conductor structure. The conductor structure may provide a diagnostic pathway.

Abstract: A silicon photon detector device and methodology are provided for detecting incident photons in a partially depleted floating body SOI field-effect transistor (310) which traps charges created by visible and mid infrared light in a floating body region (304) when the silicon photon detector is configured in a detect mode, and then measures or reads the resulting enhanced drain current with a current detector in a read mode.

Abstract: Lithography using solid immersion lenses is disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus is provided that includes a resist film that has a first side and a second and opposite side. One or more solid immersion lenses are positioned over the first side of the resist film. In another aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a resist film and exposing the resist film with radiation transmitted through one or more solid immersion lenses.

Abstract: Various semiconductor devices and methods of testing such devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a bore from a backside of a semiconductor chip through a buried insulating layer and to a semiconductor device layer of the semiconductor chip. A conductor structure is formed in the bore to establish an electrically conductive pathway between the semiconductor device layer and the conductor structure. The conductor structure may provide a diagnostic pathway.

Abstract: Various semiconductor devices and methods of testing such devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a bore from a backside of a semiconductor chip through a buried insulating layer and to a semiconductor device layer of the semiconductor chip. A conductor structure is formed in the bore to establish an electrically conductive pathway between the semiconductor device layer and the conductor structure. The conductor structure may provide a diagnostic pathway.

Abstract: A silicon photon detector device and methodology are provided for detecting incident photons in a partially depleted floating body SOI field-effect transistor (310) which traps charges created by visible and mid infrared light in a floating body region (304) when the silicon photon detector is configured in a detect mode, and then measures or reads the resulting enhanced drain current with a current detector in a read mode.

Abstract: Various semiconductor devices and methods of testing such devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a bore from a backside of a semiconductor chip through a buried insulating layer and to a semiconductor device layer of the semiconductor chip. A conductor structure is formed in the bore to establish an electrically conductive pathway between the semiconductor device layer and the conductor structure. The conductor structure may provide a diagnostic pathway.

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 necessarily breaching or needing to breach 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. An exposed region is formed where the substrate has been removed. A detectable response from the exposed region is induced, for example, by an electron beam, as a function of a portion of the active circuitry within the die.

Abstract: A light reflected from a semiconductor die is used for enhanced control of substrate removal from the die. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, light reflected from a semiconductor die as it is undergoing substrate removal is used to detect the progress of the substrate removal process, and the removal process is controlled therefrom. In different embodiments, the reflected light is used to detect the removal of a portion of a layer of material in the die and to detect the removal of an entire layer of material.

Abstract: Defect analysis of a semiconductor die is enhanced in a manner that makes possible the viewing of spatial manifestations of the defect from virtually any angle. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, substrate is removed from a semiconductor die while simultaneously obtaining images of the portions of the die from which substrate is being removed. The images are taken at various points in the substrate removal process, recorded and combined together to form a three-dimensional image of selected portions of the die. The image is then used to view the selected portions, and the nature of one or more defects therein are analyzed.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment of the present invention a semiconductor die having a resistive electrical connection is analyzed. Heat is directed to the die as the die is undergoing a state-changing operation to cause a failure due to suspect circuitry. The die is monitored, and a circuit path that electrically changes in response to the heat is detected and used to detect that a particular portion therein of the circuit is resistive. In this manner, the detection and localization of a semiconductor die defect that includes a resistive portion of a circuit path is enhanced.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for analyzing an integrated circuit having silicon on insulator (SOI) structure. According to one example embodiment of the present invention, an optical beam arrangement is adapted to direct a modulated beam at a selected portion of the integrated circuit. The beam is sufficiently modulated to inhibit optical beam intrusion on the structure and operation of the integrated circuit. A reflected optical waveform response is obtained from the SOI selected portion. The inhibition of optical beam intrusion enhances the ability to analyze integrated circuits using an optical beam, making possible the use of analysis methods that otherwise would be difficult or even impossible to use.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure and a particular example application directed to a flip-chip packaged die, a method for detecting a defect in a surface of the die includes directing light through a first beam splitter; directing light of a known wavelength at the beam splitter, wherein the first beam splitter is adapted to direct a first beam of light into the back side of the semiconductor die which reflects a second beam of light back; and redirecting the second beam to a second beam splitter, the second beam splitter generating third and fourth beams of light. Analysis of the third and fourth beams of light is then performed, and this analysis can include using detectors in respective paths of the third and fourth beams of light to generate an arrival time differential and then comparing the differential with a reference previously generated using a nondefective die.

Abstract: Defect analysis of an integrated circuit die having a back side opposite circuitry at a circuit side and a liquid crystal liquid is enhanced using near infrared (nIR) laser light. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, nIR laser light is directed to an integrated circuit die having a liquid crystal layer formed over the die. When the die includes a defect that generates heat, the heat generated in the die as a result of the nIR laser light adds to the heat in the die generated as a result of the defect and causes a portion of the liquid crystal layer to change phase near the defect. The phase change is detected and used to identify a portion of the die having a defect.

Abstract: Circuitry within a semiconductor die is analyzed by applying an electric field without necessarily directly accessing the circuitry. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an electric field is applied to a semiconductor die and used to stimulate circuitry therein. A photoemission response of the die to the electric field is detected and used to detect an electrical characteristic of the die. This is particularly useful in applications where it is desired to direct stimulation to the die from an external source and to also externally detect a response of the die to the stimulation. In this manner, the die can be tested without necessarily directly contacting the die and, when the electric field is applied in a scanning mode over the die, can be effected without necessarily knowing the location of a defect in the die.

Abstract: Circuitry within a semiconductor die is analyzed by applying an electric field without necessarily directly accessing the circuitry. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an electric field is applied to a semiconductor die and used to stimulate circuitry therein. A response of the die to the electric field is detected and used to detect an electrical characteristic of the die. This is particularly useful in applications where it is desired to direct stimulation to the die on a nanoscale level, such as when using a fine probe tip (e.g., a scanning probe microscope tip) to apply the electric field. In this manner, the response of the die can be mapped to circuitry within a few nanometers of the probe tip.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a system for testing a semiconductor die is provided. The semiconductor die has circuitry on one side and silicon on an opposite side, and the opposite side may be AR coated. The opposite side is thinned, the die is powered, and a portion of the circuitry is heated to cause a reaction (e.g., a circuit failure or recovery) in a target region. The circuitry is monitored, and the circuit that reacts to the heat is detected and analyzed.

Abstract: Analysis of a semiconductor die is enhanced by the stimulation the die and the detection of a response to the stimulation. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor die is analyzed using indirect stimulation of a portion of the die, and detecting a response therefrom. First, selected portion of circuitry within the die is stimulated. The stimulation of the selected portion induces a second portion of circuitry within the die to generate an external emission. The emission is detected and the die is analyzed therefrom. In one particular implementation, a response from the selected portion is inhibited from interfering with the detection of the emission from the second portion of circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention is directed analysis of a flip-chip integrated circuit die having SOI structure that improves the ability to image and analyze selected portions of circuitry in the die. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a lens is formed in a back side of a flip-chip die and over the insulator portion of SOI structure in the die. Light is directed at the lens and the lens is used to focus the light to target circuitry in the die. A reflection from the circuitry is detected and used to analyze the die, such as by imaging the circuitry in the die and identifying defects therein. The lens formed in the die enhances the ability to focus light to selected circuitry in the die and improves the ability to analyze dies having SOI structure through the insulator.

Abstract: Semiconductor analysis is improved via the use of fiber optic communications. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a stimulation device is adapted to stimulate an integrated circuit die, and the die generates a response to the stimulation. An optical signal generator, either incorporated into the die or coupled to the die, detects the response, converts the response to an optical signal and transmits the optical signal. The optical signal is received at a testing arrangement adapted to analyze the die therefrom. The optical signal is used to analyze the die, improving signal quality and the ability to perform high-speed analysis of the die.