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Stevan Hunter
Presented to IMAPS Student Chapter , UI, 29 SEP 2011
• Stevan Hunter
– Principal Reliability Engineer, ON Semiconductor , Pocatello, ID
– PhD Student, ISU ; IMAPS member
– (Project started in late 2008, early work constituted MS project, May
2010)
• Steven Sheffield , Cesar Salas , Jason Schofield , Jose
Martinez , Kyle Wilkins , Marco Salas
– Undergraduate student interns, Brigham Young University Idaho
– 1 per trimester starting in Fall 2009
– (Work is contuing with Jonathan Clark , Fall 2011)
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• Bryce Rasmussen, Troy Ruud, many others...
– ON Semiconductor
** Work supported by ON Semiconductor **
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
Summarizing 3 presentations / publications in 2011, relating to
0.18µm CMOS IC Technology, and other CMOS with Al metallizations
1.
Hunter , et al, “ Use of Harsh Wafer Probe to Evaluate Various Bond
Pad Structures ”, IEEE SWTW, Jun 2011
2.
Hunter, et al, “ Use of Harsh Wire Bonding to Evaluate Various IC
Bond Pad Structures ”, IMAPS EMPC2011, Sep 2011
3.
Hunter, et al, “ Physically Robust Interconnect Design in Bond Over
Active Circuitry for Cu Wire Bonding ”, IMAPS / SEMI Wirebonding
Workshop, Jul 2011
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(Two new papers to be presented at IMAPS 2011 in Oct)
• Martinez , et al, “ IC Bond Pad Structural Study by Ripple Effect ”,
IMAPS 2011, Oct 2011
• Hunter, et al, “ Bond Over Active Circuitry Design for Reliability ”,
IMAPS 2011, Oct 2011
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
• Traditional IC Bond Pads
• Wafer Probe
• Wirebonding
• The Cratering Test
• Mechanism of metals deformation and SiO
2 cracking
• Need for improved bond pad structures, BOAC / CUP
• Findings from harsh probing experiments
• Findings from harsh bonding experiments
• Design methodology for robust BOAC pad structures
• Pad Design Solution examples
• Summary
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Example packaged
IC’s (from internet)
IC die example (photo: USC)
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
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• Probe needles simultaneously touch all bond pads of the die in order to perform electrical testing of the die.
• Each touch damages the pad Al surface, leaving a “probe mark”
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
(Cantilever probe tips)
Wafer comes into contact with the Probe Tip wafer: bond pad wafer Z-up
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Wafer moves up into
Overdrive position for test, scraping the pad Al and causing a Probe Mark
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• Electrical OverStress (EOS) or Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
– receives much attention and is usually eliminated in manufacturing
• Probe mark interferes with bondability
– probe mark area too large
– probe mark “gouge” too deep (too little Al remaining)
• Top intermetal dielectric (top IMD) cracks beneath pad Al
– crack weakens films adhesion and intermetallic bond strength
– crack in IMD causes crack in TiN barrier
• allows Al, Au, Cu diffusion into the circuitry
– crack may propagate during use (latent defect)
• physical weakening of pad and bond structure
– crack may extend to another metal feature
• electrical leakage or short
– crack is visible to a customer who does die analysis
• “obvious” reliability issue to customer
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
1 TD 2 TDs
2 Mils Overdrive
3 TDs 4 TDs 5 TDs 6 TDs
Pad #2 SLM Pads
1 TD 2 TDs
4 Mils Overdrive
3 TDs 4 TDs 5 TDs 6 TDs
Pad #2 SLM Pads
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pad 8 pad 9
8 9
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FIB through the probe mark center reveals gross cracking, with breakage of the top IMD and deformation of TM(-1)
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It is typical for 25µ Au wire or 20µm Cu wire to be
“bonded” to each pad, and the wire connects to a lead on the package
Illustrations of ball bonds on bond pad structures (from ASE, Sep2011)
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A ball is formed at the end of a Au or Cu wire, then the ball is squished onto the Al pad surface and welded by ultrasonic energy
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Upper photos: www.kns.com
• Bond ball poor adhesion
• Bond stability against corrosion and diffusion
– Au-Al IMC issues
– Resistance increase over time
– Loss of adhesion over time
• IMD cracks (critical if BOAC / CUP pad)
• Bending and deformation of BOAC / CUP metal circuitry
• ESD protection (circuitry under pad in BOAC / CUP)
• Bond wire adhesion to package lead
• Bond wire integrity against corrosion or oxidation
• Bond wire stiffness to combat bending during plastic molding
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1. Bond Pull Strength test (BPS)
– Hook the wire loop and pull up until breakage
– Record the breaking force and failure mode (accepted spec limits)
– Ball may come off the pad at a low force due to poor adhesion
– Ball may pull out a chunk of the pad as it pulls off (pad divot or crater)
2. Ball Shear test (BS)
– Shear (bulldoze) the ball off the pad
– Record the breaking force and failure mode (accepted spec limits)
– Ball may come off the pad at a low force due to poor adhesion
– Ball may pull out a chunk of the pad as it pulls off (pad divot or crater)
–
Note that when the films adhesion is strong and the ball is stiff, BS test will break something in the structure – interpretation of results may be difficult
3. Cratering Test
– Etch away the ball and pad Al, then optically inspect for damage
• Cracks, lifting barrier film, divots and craters, and ripple effect
– SEM inspection, FIB or cross section polish SEM
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
A 4-level metal pad structure within the
“pad window” is illustrated in concept:
Al metallization: TiN / Al(0.5%Cu) / TiN ,
W vias , SiO
2 dielectric
• sheets of metallization at all levels
• via arrays connecting the metals
• SiO
2 dielectric surrounding
(Periphery of pad structure, passivation, Si devices, etc. are not shown)
Pad Al (MT)
Top Vias
Vias
MT(-1)
MT(-2)
Vias
MT(-3)
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Wafer probe
(electrical test)
Wirebond Packaging Operation
1.
Compressive stress from probe force
2.
Lateral stress from scrub
3.
Multiple touchdowns
1.
Compressive stress from
C/V + downforce
2.
Lateral stress from ultrasonic
1.
Thermal cycling
2.
Stresses from packaging
1.
Use conditions
2.
Thermal cycling
Cracks initiate, then propagate
(crack)
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• Cratering Test
(removal of bond ball and pad Al, then visual inspect)
– Etch to dissolve or undercut the bond ball, and etch away the pad Al, but purposely leave some of the
TiN barrier film if possible
– visually observe top SiO
2 cracking
– visually observe other damage:
• “lifting barrier”
• other loss of adhesion
• divots in top IMD
• craters
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• Cratering test removes the pad Al and the probe mark
• Usually etch only the Al to leave TiN barrier
– easier to see the cracks (highlighted in red below)
• Can also overetch the TiN to reveal etch damage in the underlying metal layer
Pad 1 Pad 2 Pad 3 Pad 4 Pad 5 Pad 6
Probe
Mark
Normal
Etched
Over
Etched
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• Enables comparison between standard and harsh wirebond, and various pad structures
Top Vias No Top Vias
Au ball bond
Harsh Au ball bond
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• optical “ripple effect”
– deformation in underlying metal interconnect (verify by FIB or XSEM)
Au ball bond Harsh Au ball bond
FIB cross section of “traditional” bonded pad test structure
Al
Top SiO
2
SiO
2
Al
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• Not all issues can be seen in cratering test
– cannot detect weakened locations
– may not see cracks in SiO
2 if the TiN barrier is not broken
– cannot detect partially cracked locations on the bottom of the SiO
2
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• top vias participate in SiO
2 cracking, giving traditional pads with top vias the worst record for cracking
• lifting TiN, SiO
2 with top vias divots, and craters are much more likely cracks propagate from via to via an example of “lifting barrier”, relating to top vias
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Basic issue with traditional pad designs :
• Large mechanical stress into brittle SiO
2 ductile Al film film over
• Underlying Al deforms into local “hills” and “valleys”, which bends the SiO
2 which cracks when its tensile fracture strength is exceeded
– Cracks may initiate in the top of the SiO
2 above deformed Al hill
– Cracks may initiate in the bottom of the SiO
2 in deformed Al valley
• Significant stress may be applied in wafer probing
• Significant stress may be applied in wirebond, especially Cu
• Additional stress may be applied in packaging
• Cracks and weak regions in the SiO
2 but remain a reliability concern may go undetected,
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Pad Window (probe and bond stresses here)
Al
SiO
2
Al
SiO
2
Al
SiO
2
Al
SiO
2
Si
2.) SiO
1.) Al film deforms into hills and valleys
2 bends and cracks
(TiN barrier layers not shown, for simplification)
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Pad Window (probe and bond stresses here)
Al
SiO
2
Al
SiO
2
Al
SiO
2
Al
SiO
2
Si
2.) SiO
1.) Al film deforms into hills and valleys
2 bends and cracks
(TiN barrier layers not shown, for simplification)
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Pad crack from ball bonding
Latent damage from wafer probe “revealed” from bonding
Barrier lifting, and divot in top IMD
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Pad “ripple” from ball bonding
FIB cross section of divot.
Sublayer Al “ripple” caused the crack
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
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Need a methodology to accomplish the following together:
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• Bond-over-active-circuitry (BOAC) , 2 – 7 levels of metal
• Maximum pad design flexibility for small die size,
• Interconnect circuitry in all levels below the pad metal, (& ESD protection)
• “pad anywhere” is desirable
• Up to 6 wafer probe touchdowns
• Cu wirebond to replace Au wirebond
• Higher reliability
– No bending or deformation in sub-layers
– No cracks
– No other bonding issues
• Often cannot use thick top metal (MT)
• Decreased cost
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
• Metal bending and deformation in interconnects is not acceptable in BOAC / CUP
• Pad cracks are not acceptable in BOAC / CUP
• Traditional pad structure cracks easily from wafer probing
• Traditional pad structure cracks easily from wire bonding
• Thin top metal increases stress to reach underlying films
• Cu wirebond increases stress on the pad Al
• High number of probe touchdowns increases pad cracks
• Cannot add new layers or process steps
• Cannot introduce new materials or layer alterations
• No existing methods to solve these simultaneously
• …Need methodology for more robust pads
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1. reduce the mechanical stress to the bond pad Al
– minimize touchdowns and force at wafer probe
– minimize stress at wirebond but, Cu wirebond still requires more mechanical stress than Au wirebond
2. modify the top of the pad to reduce the stress reaching the underlying pad structure
– thicker pad Al
– alter the barrier film
– add films to the pad top but, the above add cost and complexity, and adverse engineering tradeoffs; deformation and cracking are reduced but are not necessarily prevented in Cu wirebond
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3. modify pad structure features for a specific purpose
– change the pad metal topology to improve Au wirebond adhesion
– modify the top via pattern in or around the pad to prevent cracks or to contain the cracks within the pad window location
– eliminate top vias in the pad window to reduce cracking
– use vias in combination with specific metal patterns to “strengthen”
– remove metal features to reduce stress to devices beneath
– place dummy metal features for damping of bonding stress
– use specific connected bus structures suitable for BOAC
– use certain metal patterns to reduce pad capacitance
– use metal features to dampen the bonding stress
But, no method or combination of these methods meets the needs for freeform design of BOAC with Al-based interconnects in all metal levels beneath the pad window, especially not for achieving pad structures robust enough for the increased mechanical stress of Cu wire bonding.
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• Optimize probing parameters for reduced force as required
– Multiple touchdowns still pose some risk for cracking
• Presence of a full sheet of Al metallization beneath the pad dominates cracking behavior
• Top vias weaken the SiO
2
• Thick pad Al reduces interconnect metal deformation and SiO
2 cracking
• Prevent pad cracks at wafer probe by preventing bending of top SiO
2
; i.e. prevent deformation in underlying Al film
– Lower metal pattern density of interconnect layers, especially MT(-1)
– In particular, ensure small metal width between spaces, slots, or holes in
MT(-1)
– (Cracks tend to occur where probe force is above MT(-1) areas)
– (Cracks tend to occur where probe scrub path transitions from MT(-1) space to MT(-1) metal in the pattern)
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• After cratering test, cracks are visible in the TiN barrier
• MT(-1) patterns can be seen, after removal of pad Al and
TiN barrier film
Examples of metal test patterns in MT(-1) full sheet, no vias under full sheet, no top vias, but dense vias under
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[ref: Hunter, et al; IEEE SWTW JUN 2011]
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
Data
Fraction of cracked pads vs metal pattern density in MT(-1)
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(1)
Harsh Bonding results are very similar to harsh probing results
• Pad structures crack due to high bonding stress, so we optimize for low stress in manufacturing
– Cu bonding stress is “harsh” regardless
– Simulate the same high stress by un-optimized Au ball bond recipe
• Presence of a full sheet of Al metallization in pad sub-layers dominates cracking behavior
• Top vias weaken the SiO
2
• Thick pad Al reduces sub-layer interconnect metal deformation and SiO
2 cracking
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Cratering test ripple: Au ball bond on traditional pad structure
1µm pad Al
7% pads cracked
1.5µm pad Al
4% pads cracked
3µm pad Al
0% pads cracked
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(2)
• Prevent pad cracks at bonding by preventing bending of top
SiO
2
; i.e. prevent deformation in underlying Al film
– Lower metal pattern density of interconnect layers, especially MT(-1)
– Presence of MT(-1) features and vias beneath may be beneficial, unless high pattern density
– Reduce metal width between spaces, slots, or holes
• Other
– Bonding cracks don’t tend to interact with interconnect patterns
– Removal of metal in all layers beneath pad is unacceptable due to potential harsh bonding strain on devices beneath and increased cracking outside pad window
– Traditional reliability testing is not likely to reveal cracking issues
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Traditional
Weakest
No top Vias
Slight improvement
Missing MT(-1)
More improvement
Slotted MT(-1)
Better
Waffle MT(-1)
Better
Missing MT(-1) and MT(-2)
Very good
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Missing MT(-1) Slotted MT(-2)
Best
Missing MT(-1) waffle MT(-2)
Best
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
Missing MT(-1, -2,-3)
Strongest
10206 pads analyzed in this experiment
Pad test structure examples. These pads have Top Metal removed
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Indicates Pad Designs with TM(-1) Missing.
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
(Non-optimized Recipe, 2000 pads)
Crater Test & Ball Shear Results for Different MT(-1) Pad Structures
Only traditional pads exhibited consistent cracking for AuPd ball bond.
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(2000 pads)
Crater Test & Ball Shear Results for Different TM(-1) Pad Structures
Only traditional pads exhibited consistent cracking for Cu ball bond.
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• 1mil Au wirebond, and 1mil Cu wirebond rel tested in parallel,
• 3 different robust pad BOAC designs, electrically test I
L
• 1 assembly lot (300 plastic packaged parts) each
BPS
BS
2
• 0.8um Pad Al thickness on robust pad
• Au bonds : large IMC growth, some voiding
• Cu bonds : Al remaining under bond, very little IMC, no weakening or resistance increase – more reliable for high temperature applications, don’t need thick pad Al
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
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>>> don’t let the SiO
2
“bend” significantly during pad stress <<<
Do this by preventing Al deformation beneath the SiO
2
• Prevent Al “hills” and “valleys”, prevent plastic deformation
– Do this by lowering the metal pattern density in the metal sub-layers beneath the pad window, predominantly in MT(-1)
– Limit the maximum allowed metal width (or distance) between spaces, slots or holes in the metal sub-layers beneath the pad window, with the most restriction imposed in MT(-1)
– Vias beneath MT(-1) and MT(-2) features are encouraged
Below: Example of how robust pad design guidelines may be specified
(actual values are technology-specific)
MT Very thin nominal THICK
MT(-1) density
MT(-1) width
MT(-2) density
MT(-2) width
0-50% dense, very narrow
25 –75% dense wide
0-75% dense narrow
15-90% dense wider
0-85% dense not as narrow
15-95% dense widest
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
1. 3LM BOAC, Au wirebond
2. 3LM Power Device, Cu wirebond
3. 4LM standard pad for design library, Au or Cu wirebond
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3LM BOAC
• 3-level Metal, older CMOS technology,
• Very thin top metal
• Die area limit requires BOAC pads
– Freeform interconnect circuitry in M1 and M2
– Some top vias required
– Need ESD protection circuitry under pad
• Traditional bond pads historically had issues with cracks in non-optimized probing and bonding processes, partly due to the very thin top metal
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3LM BOAC
• M1 and below for ESD protection circuitry under pad
– 93% M1 pattern density, mostly due to the natural spaces
• M2 sparse with only about 5% pattern density
• Top vias connect M2 to pad
• Pad electrical node conduction through dense vias outside pad window
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• Successful product qualification, including extended reliability testing followed by wire pull, ball shear, and cratering tests
• No cracking found in harsh probing and harsh bonding tests with Au wire
• Issues with Cu wirebonding due to such thin top metal
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
3LM Power Device, Cu wirebond
• 3-level metal power device
• Thick top metal
• Cu wire bond
• “Pad anywhere” style BOAC
• Product failed qualification:
• Certain pads were having electrical shorts
– Caused by cracks in the top SiO
2
– Pads with large area M2 features in the pad window had the cracks
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3LM Power Device, Cu wirebond
• DOE with a number of variations in lower metal density
– Various arrays of holes in M2 and M1
– Or selected slotting in M2 and M1
– And various via density changes between M2 and M1
• Arrays of holes in M2 were most successful at preventing cracks
– Don’t need holes in M1, only M2
– Via placement had no effect
– Lowered M2 pattern density to 80% on large area features
– Uniform lower density in the pattern is a benefit of arrayed holes
• Completed full reliability qualification without issues
• (Other products, including 2LM and 3LM, have been improved by the same method, both Au and Cu wire)
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Reduced area pad for design library
• Well established CMOS technology
• Nominal top metal thickness
• At least 4-levels of metal
• Standard robust pad design for no MT(-1) in pad window, and full ESD protection under the pad
• Provide options for designers:
– Ability for designer to add MT(-1) interconnects for BOAC
– Permit use of ESD protection devices outside the pad instead
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4LM standard pad for design library
• No MT(-1) in pad window
– MT(-1) and dense top vias for pad connection are outside pad window only
• Option for MT(-1) interconnect
– Simulated by bus structures with arrays of holes (75% pattern density in bus)
– Vias connecting MT(-1) to MT(-2)
• 4um wide bus structures traverse the pad window in MT(-2) for the various electrical nodes, about 50% pattern density
• ESD protection circuitry under pad, including the M1 circuitry
– Option to replace ESD circuitry under pad and use other qualified ESD protection circuitry as desired
• 3 pad designs qualified together
– Harsh probing, followed by harsh bonding tests with multiple wire types
– Standard and extended reliability qualification testing, with extra wire pull, ball shear, and cratering tests following the reliability stresses
• 1mil Au wirebonding
• 1mil Cu wirebonding
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
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• Pad design challenges include various engineering tradeoffs
• Prior design methods for Al – SiO
2 provide the needed solutions pad structures don’t
• Basic BOAC / CUP pad design guidelines were developed based on extensive data:
– Various pad test structures
– Harsh probing
– Harsh Au wirebonding, AuPd, and Cu wirebonding
– Extended reliability testing, with physical pad tests following
• “Ripple” effect in the cratering test is valuable in assessing pad robustness
• Pad Al thickness is a less important parameter on a robust pad structure
• Examples of improved pad design in product solutions
Stevan Hunter Recent Development Work in IC CUP 29 Sep 2011
• Harsh Probing experiments are continuing
– More test structures in more CMOS technologies
– Different style probe cards
• Harsh Bonding experiments are continuing
– More test structures in more CMOS technologies
• Reliability testing Au and Cu wirebonded parts with new pad structures
• Implementing improved pads and Cu wirebonding on products
• Finite element modeling (FEM) to investigate robust pad physical principles
• Seeking to refine bond pad Design Rules for BOAC / CUP
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Basic 3D model
Von Mises
Stress after downforce
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Films, top to bottom, are:
1um pad Al, 1um SiO2, 0.5um Al M2, 1um SiO2 IMD1, 0.5um
Al M1, 1um SiO2 ILD, 600um Si
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High strain points at the edge of the probe, with strain continuing down through the layers.
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