Patent ID: 7786724
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A method for collecting process characterization data local to a failed integrated circuit, comprising: providing a wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits thereon, each integrated circuit having a plurality of contact terminals, and the wafer further having a plurality of process characterization test sites distributed across the wafer such that at least one process characterization test site is adjacent each integrated circuit; selecting a group of two or more integrated circuits for simultaneous testing; for each of the selected integrated circuits, coupling two or more contact terminals of the selected integrated circuit, and a corresponding two or more contact terminals of an associated process characterization test site to corresponding input terminals of a multiplexer, each multiplexer having an output terminal and a select control input terminal, the multiplexer operable to selectively provide an electrical pathway between either an integrated circuit contact terminal or a process characterization test site contact terminal, and the multiplexer output terminal; coupling the output terminal of each multiplexer to a tester channel; operating the multiplexer so that its output terminal is coupled to the integrated circuit contact terminal; simultaneously testing two or more of the selected integrated circuits; detecting a failure of at least one of the selected two or more integrated circuits prior to completion of testing the remaining integrated circuits simultaneously being tested; subsequent to detecting the failure, operating the multiplexer coupled to the failed integrated so that the output terminal of the multiplexer is coupled to the process characterization test site contact terminal coupled to that multiplexer; and collecting process characterization data prior to completion of testing the remaining selected integrated circuits.