Patent ID: 7781239
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing a semiconductor wafer comprising a first group of field effect transistors (FET) and a second group of FETS, said first group of FETS comprising a first FET, said second group of FETS comprising a second FET, said first FET comprising a first gate structure, a first source/drain structure, and a first sidewall spacer structure, said first gate structure comprising a first gate electrode formed over a first gate insulator, said first source/drain structure comprising a first source and a first drain, said first source extending laterally in a first direction such that said first gate electrode is located directly over a portion of said first source, said first drain extending laterally in a second direction opposite said first direction such that said first gate electrode is located directly over a portion of said first drain, said second FET comprising a second gate structure, a second source/drain structure, and a second sidewall spacer structure, said second gate structure comprising a second gate electrode formed over a second gate insulator, said second source/drain structure comprising a second source and a second drain, said second gate structure not located directly over any portion of said second source or any portion of said second drain; performing a first procedure to determine if a first current flow exists between a first conductive layer formed over said first gate electrode and a second conductive layer formed over said first source or said first drain; performing a second procedure to determine if a second current flow exists between a third conductive layer formed over said second gate electrode and a fourth conductive layer formed over said second source or said second drain; and combining results of said first procedure and results of said second procedure to determine if said first FET and said second FET each comprise no defect, a gate insulator defect or a missing sidewall spacer defect.