Patent ID: 6288453
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A semiconductor wafer comprising:a silicon wafer substrate;a first contact layer formed on an outer surface of said silicon wafer substrate;a first interconnect layer formed on an outer surface of said contact layer;a unitary multifunctional alignment structure formed in said first interconnect layer for use in both inline visually aligning and electrically measuring the alignment accuracy of said semiconductor wafer;a second contact layer formed on an outer surface of said first interconnect layer;a plurality of openings formed in a predetermined pattern in said second contact layer, the openings and the unitary multifunctional alignment structure having a spatial relationship such that all of the openings at least partially overlie and progressively offset the unitary multifunctional alignment structure in instances of proper alignment between the openings and the unitary multifunctional alignment structure in a manner that allows visual confirmation of instances of proper alignment, and further that at least some of the openings do not overlie the unitary multifunctional alignment structure in instances of improper alignment between the openings and the unitary multifunctional alignment structure in a manner that allows visual confirmation of instances of misalignment between the openings and the unitary multifunctional alignment structure; anda second interconnect layer formed on an outer surface of said second contact layer, the second interconnect layer having electrically conductive traces, one of each of the electrically conductive traces associated with one of each of the openings in the contact layer, whereby all of the electrically conductive traces make electrical contact with the multifunctional alignment structure through the openings in instances of proper alignment between the openings and the unitary multifunctional alignment structure in a manner that allows electrical confirmation of instances of proper alignment, and further that at least some of the electrically conductive traces do not make electrical contact with the multifunctional alignment structure through the openings in instances of improper alignment between the openings and the unitary multifunctional alignment structure in a manner that allows electrical confirmation of instances of improper alignment.