Patent ID: 6204516
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
An apparatus for determining the robustness of a device to soft errors generated by alpha-particle and/or cosmic ray strikes, comprising:a light source for producing a light pulse which is applied to the device at a predetermined location, said light pulse having a light pulse energy;a light pulse energy varying circuit coupled to said light source and configured to vary said light pulse energy;a processor coupled to said light source and said light pulse energy varying circuit for controlling said light source and said light pulse energy varying circuit and configured to determine:a number of electron-hole pairs generated for a predetermined distance of travel by the alpha-particle and/or cosmic ray into the device based on an estimated energy of the alpha-particle and/or cosmic ray strikes,an absorption coefficient in the device for a light pulse with a predetermined wavelength, anda first pulse width for said light pulse to generate said number of electron-hole pairs for said predetermined distance of travel by said light pulse into the semiconductor device; anda detecting circuit coupled to the device and configured to detect the soft errors in the device.