Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor wafer (1) having a plurality of first sawing regions (201-211) running parallel to one another in a first direction (X) and a plurality of second sawing regions (301-311) running parallel to one another in a second direction (Y), having useful regions (10) which in each case contain an integrated circuit (100) and which are in each case arranged between respective adjacent first sawing regions (201-211) and respective adjacent second sawing regions (301-311), and at least one test structure region arranged in the first sawing regions (201-211) and the second sawing regions (301-311) with test structures formed therein for checking electrical parameters of semiconductor elements.

Abstract: A semiconductor product having a test structure, in which a contact connection short-circuits that source/drain region of a transistor which is connected to an inner capacitor electrode of a trench capacitor by a dopant diffusion region with an interconnect is disclosed. Methods are disclosed for making an electrical measurement, to determine the nonreactive resistance of dopant diffusion regions, the so-called “buried straps”, without the measurement result being corrupted by the nonreactive resistance of a transistor channel. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention having a plurality of electrical connections of the capacitor electrode, static currents can also be conducted through a buried strap and the capacitor electrode. Embodiments are disclosed that make it possible to perform at novel test structures of a semiconductor wafer electrical resistance measurements, which cannot be carried out at memory cells of a memory cell array themselves.

Abstract: A test structure for determining the electrical properties of a memory cell in a matrix-like cell array constructed on the basis of the single-sided buried strap concept has a connection between internal electrodes in the storage capacitors in two adjacent memory cells in the direction of the row of active regions in order to produce a series circuit. A first selection transistor and a first storage capacitor in a first memory cell and a second selection transistor and a second storage capacitor in a second memory cell, the active regions of the first and second selection transistors not being connected between the first and second selection transistors via a contact-making bit line.

Abstract: A semiconductor product having a test structure, in which a contact connection short-circuits that source/drain region of a transistor which is connected to an inner capacitor electrode of a trench capacitor by a dopant diffusion region with an interconnect is disclosed. Methods are disclosed for making an electrical measurement, to determine the nonreactive resistance of dopant diffusion regions, the so-called “buried straps”, without the measurement result being corrupted by the nonreactive resistance of a transistor channel. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention having a plurality of electrical connections of the capacitor electrode, static currents can also be conducted through a buried strap and the capacitor electrode. Embodiments are disclosed that make it possible to perform at novel test structures of a semiconductor wafer electrical resistance measurements, which cannot be carried out at memory cells of a memory cell array themselves.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor wafer (1) having a plurality of first sawing regions (201-211) running parallel to one another in a first direction (X) and a plurality of second sawing regions (301-311) running parallel to one another in a second direction (Y), having useful regions (10) which in each case contain an integrated circuit (100) and which are in each case arranged between respective adjacent first sawing regions (201-211) and respective adjacent second sawing regions (301-311), and at least one test structure region arranged in the first sawing regions (201-211) and the second sawing regions (301-311) with test structures formed therein for checking electrical parameters of semiconductor elements.

Abstract: The invention proposes a semiconductor wafer with a test structure for detecting parasitic contact structures on the semiconductor wafer, in which a first interconnect plane (A) contains interconnects (1) running parallel to one another and a second interconnect (2) that is arranged between the latter. The two first interconnects (1) are connected by means of contact elements (4) arranged above them, to a third interconnect (3) that runs in a second interconnect plane (B) transverse to the first and second interconnects, and that also crosses the second interconnect (2). If there is a parasitic contact structure (5) formed between the contact elements (4), which has arisen during the lithographic exposure for producing the contact elements (4) on account of constructively interfering diffraction maxima, then this shorts the second interconnect (2) to the third interconnect (3).