Patent ID: 6781150
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
In an integrated circuit, the improvement comprising a crack detection structure having:a first control structure having interleaved electrically conductive layers and non electrically conductive layers in a vertical orientation, with electrically conductive vias disposed vertically through all of the non electrically conductive layers and electrically connecting all of the electrically conductive layers one to another, a second control structure having interleaved electrically conductive layers and non electrically conductive layers in a vertical orientation, with electrically conductive vias disposed vertically through all of the non electrically conductive layers and electrically connecting all of the electrically conductive layers one to another, a test structure electrically disposed between the first control structure and the second control structure, and having a bonding pad for probing and bonding, and underlying interleaved electrically conductive layers and non electrically conductive layers in a vertical orientation, with a first and an immediately underlying second of the non electrically conductive layers have no vias formed therein, simulating active circuitry under other bonding pads of the integrated circuit, at least one of the interleaved electrically conductive layers of the first control structure extending from within the first control structure to within the test structure as a first sensing layer, where the first sensing layer immediately underlies the first non electrically conductive layer in the test structure that has no vias formed therein, such that a crack in the first non electrically conductive layer in the test structure that has no vias formed therein is detectable as a leakage current between the bonding pad of the test structure and a top most electrically conductive layer of the first control structure, and at least one of the interleaved electrically conductive layers of the second control structure extending from within the second control structure to within the test structure as a second sensing layer, where the second sensing layer immediately underlies the second non electrically conductive layer in the test structure that has no vias formed therein, such that a crack in the second non electrically conductive layer in the test structure that has no vias formed therein is detectable as a leakage current between a top most electrically conductive layer of the second control structure and the top most electrically conductive layer of the first control structure.