Patent ID: 6541981
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
An apparatus for testing a plurality of electrostatic discharge (ESD) devices on a wafer, comprising: a computer system; a pulse generator; a current probe; a switching matrix; an oscilloscope; a ground board; a voltage probe board; and N circuit paths originating from the switching matrix and passing through both the ground board and the voltage probe board,wherein N is at least 2, wherein the computer system is electrically coupled to electrical devices including: the pulse generator, the current probe, the switching matrix, the oscilloscope, the ground board, and the voltage probe board, wherein the computer system, upon execution of a computer code, serves to control and synchronize operation of the electrical devices, wherein, under program control of the computer system, the pulse generator serves to generate a voltage pulse and to send the voltage pulse to the switching matrix by way of the current probe, wherein, under program control of the computer system, the current probe serves to detect an electrical current value associated with the voltage pulse and to transmit the electrical current value to the oscilloscope, wherein, under program control of the computer system, the switching matrix serves to electrically connect Z circuit paths of the N circuit paths to the pulse generator, such that Z is at least 1, wherein, under program control of the computer system, the ground board serves to electrically disconnect X circuit paths of the Z circuit paths from the pulse generator and to connect the X circuit paths to a ground voltage level, wherein, under program control of the computer system and if X is less than Z, the voltage probe board serves to detect voltage values in a remaining Z-X circuit paths and to pass the voltage values to the oscilloscope, such that the remaining Z-X circuit paths of the Z circuit paths are not among the X circuit paths, and wherein the oscilloscope, under program control of the computer system, serves to receive the voltage values and the electrical current value and to pass the voltage values and the electrical current value to computer system.