Patent ID: 6509202
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: G01R,H01L

Abstract:
A method for qualifying an oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) layer including a first oxide layer, a nitride layer and a control oxide layer in a semiconductor device, the method comprising the steps of:(a) determining a first plurality of lifetimes for the ONO layer utilizing a first plurality of applied voltages at a first plurality of temperatures for each of a first plurality of ONO layers having a particular nitride layer thickness and a plurality of control oxide layer thicknesses; (b) determining a second plurality of lifetimes for the ONO layer utilizing a second plurality of applied voltages at a second plurality of temperatures for each of a second plurality of ONO layers having a particular control oxide layer thickness and a plurality of nitride layer thicknesses; (c) determining a field acceleration factor for the ONO layer based on the first plurality of lifetimes, the second plurality of lifetimes, the first plurality of applied voltages and the second plurality of applied voltages; (d) determining an activation energy for the ONO layer based on the first plurality of lifetimes, the second plurality of lifetimes, the first plurality of temperatures and the second plurality of temperatures; and (e) determining a lifetime for the ONO layer based upon the field acceleration factor and the activation energy for the ONO layer.