System and method for a microfabricated fracture test structure

According to an embodiment, a micro-fabricated test structure includes a structure mechanically coupled between two rigid anchors and disposed above a substrate. The structure is released from the substrate and includes a test layer mechanically coupled between the two rigid anchors. The test layer includes a first region having a first cross-sectional area and a constricted region having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area. The structure also includes a first tensile stressed layer disposed on a surface of the test layer adjacent the first region.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to micro-fabricated structures, and, in particular embodiments, to a system and method for a micro-fabricated fracture test structure.

BACKGROUND

Microfabrication is the process of fabrication of miniature structures of micrometer scales and smaller. Historically, the earliest microfabrication processes were used for integrated circuit fabrication, also known as “semiconductor manufacturing” or “semiconductor device fabrication.” In addition, the fields of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), microsystems (European terminology), micromachines (Japanese terminology) and subfields, such as microfluidics/lab-on-a-chip, optical MEMS, RF MEMS, PowerMEMS, BioMEMS, and other extensions into nanoscale dimensions (for example NEMS, for nanoelectromechanical systems) have used, adapted, or extended microfabrication methods. Flat-panel displays and solar cells also use similar techniques.

Generally, the process of microfabrication includes precisely controlled steps to form tiny structures with specific shapes or dimensions. The process of forming these tiny structures may include additive steps where materials are deposited or formed and also may include subtractive steps where materials are removed by patterning and etching or other known techniques. The fabrication of such small and varied devices presents numerous challenges in terms of, for example, process variation, quality control, and structure characterization.

One specific example topic area includes characterization. Because the fabricated devices have dimensions on the micrometer scale or less, the device performance or function may change significantly with only small variations in material or geometric properties. Further, because the processes used are applied to such tiny structures, the variation within processes may cause small variations in the material or geometric properties to be common, even for devices fabricated on a same semiconductor wafer with the same device design and, hence, the same sequence of processing steps during fabrication. Thus, for example, the same design may be applied to 100 devices on a single wafer or on different wafers, but each device has a significantly different performance due to process variations. Characterizing the fabricated devices in order to determine the actual performance may then be useful and not always easy.

One approach to characterizing fabricated devices is by using test structures. Test structures are structures fabricated on a wafer with the designed devices that may be tested during or after fabrication in order to determine material and geometric properties of the fabricated designed device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment, a micro-fabricated test structure includes a structure mechanically coupled between two rigid anchors and disposed above a substrate. The structure is released from the substrate and includes a test layer mechanically coupled between the two rigid anchors. The test layer includes a first region having a first cross-sectional area and a constricted region having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area. The structure also includes a first tensile stressed layer disposed on a surface of the test layer adjacent the first region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The making and using of various embodiments are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the various embodiments described herein are applicable in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use various embodiments, and should not be construed in a limited scope.

Description is made with respect to various embodiments in a specific context, namely fabricated test structures, and more particularly, test structures for determining the fracture strength of thin films. Some of the various embodiments described herein include microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication, integrated circuit (IC) fabrication, thin film test structures, fabrication of thin film test structures, and test structures for determining the fracture strength of a thin film. In other embodiments, aspects may also be applied to other applications involving any type of test structure according to any fashion as known in the art.

According to various embodiments described herein, fabricated thin films or layers may have varying thickness and material properties. As a result of these variations, the fracture strength of the layer or thin film may also vary significantly. In various embodiments, test structures are disclosed herein that may be used to determine the fracture strength of a thin film or layer during or after fabrication. These test structures include a plurality of structures having various tensile stresses applied to each structure. A subset of the plurality of structures is designed to fracture during a fabrication sequence. Inspection of the test structures and determination of the subset that fracture is used to determine the fracture strength of the thin film or layer under test.

FIG. 1illustrates a block diagram of a fabricated system100employing an embodiment test structure101. According to various embodiments, fabricated system100may be referred to as wafer100and may include numerous components on a fabricated wafer such as MEMS104, integrated circuit (IC)106, and IC108, for example. Wafer100may include additional MEMS and ICs or fewer MEMS or ICs. As shown, test structure101is fabricated on wafer100. In some embodiments, test structure101is fabricated adjacent to a MEMS or IC that is being tested, such as MEMS104, IC106, and IC108. In further embodiments, test structure101is only used to test an immediately adjacent MEMS or IC.

According to various embodiments, wafer100may be fabricated using any type of fabrication process that may involve, for example, many steps including any type of layer formation, such as growth or deposition, and any type of patterning of the layers, generally performed on some type of substrate. The fabrication steps discussed herein are in no way limiting as embodiment test structures may be used with any fabrication step or process as is known in the art. As briefly discussed above, fabrication processes, and particularly microfabrication processes (even nanofabrication processes), are filled with variations despite being highly controlled. The scale of the structures causes small variations in geometry on the order to micrometers, nanometers, or even smaller to affect overall performance of a fabricated device. Additionally, material properties of the fabricated structures are subject to variation as well and small variations of a material property may also affect the overall performance of the fabricated device.

For at least these reasons, embodiment test structures101are fabricated on wafer100in order to characterize the fabricated structure. As is known in the art, many types of test structures exist and may be fabricated on wafer100and included in test structure101. Embodiments described herein include a tensile stress test structure for testing the fracture strength of a thin film or fabricated layer. Test structure101may also include optional electrical test structures for testing various electrical properties such as resistance of different materials, for example.

In addition to a general need for characterization following fabrication, determining the fracture strength may be particularly beneficial in some embodiments. For example, in a MEMS microphone common in many mobile applications such as personal computers, cell phones, and tablets, a deflectable membrane is at the center of the MEMS device. The deflectable membrane is a type of thin film that is generally released to deflect in response to incident sound pressure waves entering the microphone. The robustness of the microphone is often determined by the characteristics of the deflectable membrane. For example, the fracture strength of a thin film or layer may be determined in order to characterize a device such as a MEMS microphone.

FIGS. 2aand 2billustrate a cross-sectional view and a top view, respectively, of an embodiment test structure200. According to various embodiments, test structure200includes thin film202, top tensile film204, and bottom tensile film206. Thin film202is attached between rigid anchors208and210and has a cutout212at some point in the thin film202. In various embodiments, thin film202is fabricated using a same fabrication process as a specific thin film of a device, such as MEMS104inFIG. 1, and may be fabricated adjacent to the device on a wafer. Thus, thin film202has similar properties and process variation as the particular thin film under test in a fabricated device. In some embodiments, electrode214may be formed below thin film202and may be configured to apply a voltage to thin film202. Electrode214may be a doped region in a substrate (not shown), a metal layer, or a polysilicon layer formed on the substrate, for example.

According to various embodiments, cutout212produces a constricted region216in thin film202. Top and bottom tensile films204and206apply a tensile stress on thin film202. In some embodiments, the tensile stress applied by tensile films204and206causes thin film202to fracture in constricted region216. In various embodiments, test structure101inFIG. 1includes multiple implementations of test structure200inFIG. 2with different tensile stresses applied to thin film202or different constricted regions216as will be discussed below. In such embodiments, the fracture strength of the thin film under test may be determined by inspection of the plurality of test structures and identification of which test structures fractured.

FIG. 3illustrates a layout view of embodiment test structure102including a first group of test structures220and a second group of test structures225. According to various embodiments, each group of test structures220and225includes individual test structures201as shown above test structure102. Test structure201includes cutout212in thin film202having an elliptical shape with a long diameter (transverse diameter) a and a short diameter (conjugate diameter) b. In various embodiments, test structure101inFIG. 1may include a single test structure102or multiple test structures102.

According to various embodiments, the stress at which thin film202in test structure201fractures depends on the size and shape of constricted region216, which is defined by cutout212. Further, the tensile stress applied is determined by the amount of tensile films204and206that is applied. Based on these concepts, the groups of test structures220and225are selected to fracture some test structures201of the plurality and not to fracture others. The first group of test structures220includes test structures201with long diameter a and short diameter b both equal and constant throughout all test structure201in group220. However, each test structure201in group220has a different amount of tensile film204formed on thin film202. In various embodiments, tensile film206may also be formed in different amounts, or tensile film206may be omitted in some embodiments.

For example, the top test structure201in group220may have 90% of thin film202covered by tensile film204(or tensile film206, inclusive), as shown. The percentage covering each test structure may be decreased moving downwards such that the bottom test structure201may have 2% of thin film202covered by tensile film204(or tensile film206, inclusive), as shown. In this case, the tensile stress applied to each test structure201in group220ranges from a maximum for the top test structure to a minimum for the bottom test structure. The calculation of the tensile stress applied to each structure may be routinely performed by those skilled in the art using numerical approximations or more accurate finite element analysis with commercially available or custom software.

According to various embodiments, the second group of test structures225includes test structures201with short diameter b being constant and long diameter a ranging from top test structure to bottom test structure. In this embodiment, tensile film204is formed in an equal amount on thin film for each test structure201of group225. Thus, group225includes an embodiment where the tensile stress applied to thin film202in each test structure201is constant while the stress at which the thin film202will fracture is not constant. As discussed above, the tensile film206may also be applied in an equal amount to the bottom of thin film202for each test structure201in group225. In other embodiments, either tensile film204or206may be omitted as desired.

For example, every test structure201in group225may have 50% of thin film202covered with tensile film204(or tensile film206, inclusive). Thus, a constant tensile stress is applied to each test structure201in group225. The strength of each test structure201ranges as determined by the size of constricted region216in each test structure201. The size of constricted region216is determined by long diameter a in test structure201, which varies from a maximum in the top test structure201to a minimum in the bottom test structure201of group225. Thus, the top test structure201in group225is more likely to fracture than the bottom test structure201because constricted region216in the top structure is longer, making the total beam formed by thin film202weaker. In group225, short diameter b is held constant.

According to various embodiments, long diameter a and short diameter b are both 8 μm and the width w of the beam formed by thin film202is 10 μm for each test structure201in group220. For test structures201in group225, short diameter b is 8 μm and width w is 10 μm while long diameter a ranges from 0 μm to 100 μm. In other embodiments, each dimension may take on any value and may vary or be held constant. Further, any combination of constant and ranging dimensions may be used in various embodiments. In further particular embodiments, width w may range from 5 μm to 100 μm and short diameter b may range from 1 μm to 100 μm. The total beam length, formed by thin film202coupled between anchors208and210, may range from 100 μm to 500 μm in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the beam length may be shorter than 100 μm or longer than 500 μm. In a particular embodiment, the beam length may be 400 μm. Additionally, the percentage of thin film202that is covered by tensile film204(or tensile film206, inclusive) may be any percentage. Further, the shape of the cutout may take any form and produce numerous types of constricted regions, as well be explained in reference toFIGS. 4a-4h.

In further embodiments, the inventive concepts described herein are also applicable to nanoscale structures. Although the example dimensions have been primarily given in reference to MEMS, test structure200as a part of test structure102may be applied to nanoscale structures according to the same concepts. In such embodiments, the dimensions may be decreased while the same principles of applying tensile stress to thin films may still be applied.

FIGS. 4a-4hillustrate top views of various embodiment test structures as described in reference to test structure200and201with various different features.FIG. 4aillustrates a test structure with a rectangular cutout212.FIG. 4billustrates a test structure with a circular cutout212.FIG. 4cillustrates a test structure with an elliptical cutout212having a larger vertical diameter.FIG. 4dillustrates a test structure with an elliptical cutout212having a larger horizontal diameter.FIG. 4eillustrates a test structure with a diamond shaped cutout212.FIG. 4fillustrates a test structure with cutouts212near anchor208and tensile film204on the right side of thin film202.FIG. 4gillustrates a test structure with a rectangular cutout212near anchor208and tensile film204on the right side of thin film202.FIG. 4hillustrates a test structure with cutouts212and tensile film204patterned with a non-square pattern. Each test structure inFIGS. 4a-4hmay be formed and used as described in reference toFIGS. 2 and 3above. For example, every test structure inFIGS. 4a-4hmay include tensile film206on a bottom surface of thin film202. In the various embodiments, tensile film206may be patterned to match tensile film204or may be patterned differently.

FIGS. 5aand 5billustrate a cross-sectional view and a top view, respectively, of a further embodiment test structure300. According to various embodiments, test structure300includes thin film302with tensile films304, above, and306, below. In the various embodiments, either tensile film304or306may be omitted and only a single tensile film304or306may be used. Thin film302also includes a constricted region316. As shown inFIG. 5b, constricted region316is a narrowed region that is more prone to fracture, in some embodiments. Thin film302is formed between rigid anchors308and310. Test structure300may also include electrode314for applying an additional force in order to deflect the fixed-fixed bean formed by thin film302. Test structure300differs from test structure200and the various embodiments discussed inFIGS. 4a-4hin the shape of the beam. Test structure300is formed of a tapered beam, generally without cutout regions. In other embodiments, elements of all the embodiments may be freely interchanged, such as the tapering of test structure300and the cutouts of test structure200, for example.

Just as with the other test structures described herein, the tensile force applied to thin film302is related to the amount of tensile film304and306applied. The larger the area of overlap, as seen from the top view inFIG. 5b, the larger the tensile force applied to thin film302. Further, the longer the beam and the narrower the constricted region, the lower the force required to fracture or rupture thin film302.

FIG. 6illustrates a layout view of embodiment test structure103including a first group of test structures320and a second group of test structures325. According to various embodiments, each group of test structures320and325includes individual test structures300as shown above test structure103. Test structure300includes constricted region316in thin film302, which is tapered from wider regions at rigid anchors308and310. The length of uncovered thin film302is given by length a and the width of the beam formed by thin film302is given by width b. In various embodiments, test structure101inFIG. 1may include a single test structure103, multiple test structures103, or some combination of test structures102as described in reference toFIG. 3and test structures103.

As discussed above, the stress at which thin film302in test structure300fractures depends on the size and shape of constricted region316, which is generally defined for the embodiments shown inFIGS. 5-7by length a and width b. Further, the tensile stress applied to the beam formed by thin film302is determined by the amount of tensile films304and306that is applied.

Based on the above concepts, the groups of test structures320and325are selected to fracture some test structures300a-300hof the plurality and not to fracture others. The first group of test structures320includes test structures300a-300dwith a constant first length a and with a width b that increases moving downwards inFIG. 6. For example, the length a of each beam in group320may be 54 μm while the width b of test structure300ais 1 μm, the width b of test structure300bis 2.5 μm, the width b of test structure300cis 5 μm, and the width b of test structure300dis 10 μm. The second group of test structures325includes test structures300e-300hwith a constant first length a and with a width b that increases moving downwards inFIG. 6. For example, the length a of each beam in group325may be 122 μm while the width b of test structure300e-330hmimics that of test structures300a-300din group320, respectively. In various embodiments, length a and width b may each be set to any value and may be varied separately or together in different test structures.

According to various embodiments, any number of test structures300may be used of any dimension. For example, length a may range from 10 μm to 1000 μm and width b may range from 0.1 μm to 100 μm. Other dimensions may also be used. As mentioned above, nanoscale structures based on these same concepts are also envisioned. In such embodiments, the structures will be formed with nanoscale widths b and lengths a in addition to other scaling related modifications.

FIGS. 7a-7eillustrate top views of various embodiment test structures as described in reference to test structure300with various different features.FIG. 7aillustrates a test structure with a two-step linearly tapered region feeding into a constant width constricted region.FIG. 7billustrates a test structure with a different two step linearly tapered region feeding into a further curved tapered constricted region.FIG. 7cillustrates a test structure with a single step linearly tapered region feeding into a further curved tapered constricted region.FIG. 7dillustrates a test structure with a curved tapered region throughout as shown inFIGS. 5aand 5b, except constricted region316includes corrugation318.FIG. 7eillustrates a test structure with a curved tapered region throughout, except that constricted region316is coupled directly to anchor308.

Each test structure inFIGS. 7a-7emay be formed and used as described in reference to the other figures. For example, every test structure inFIGS. 7a-7hmay include tensile film306on a bottom surface of thin film302. In the various embodiments, tensile film306may be patterned to match tensile film304or may be patterned differently.

FIGS. 8a-8hillustrate an embodiment fabrication sequence for an embodiment test structure according to any of the embodiments described herein.FIG. 8aillustrates a structure with an electrode layer402that may be a doped part of a substrate (not shown), such as a silicon substrate. In various embodiments, the substrate may be any material and electrode layer402may also be a metal layer deposited on the substrate. A sacrificial layer400is deposited on top of electrode layer402. In various embodiments, sacrificial layer400may be formed of any type of material, such as silicon dioxide, a thermal oxide, carbon, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), or others, for example. Tensile layer404is deposited on sacrificial layer400. In various embodiments, tensile layer404may be formed of any material that applies a tensile force when released, such as silicon nitride or aluminum oxide, for example.

According to various embodiments, tensile layer404may be any thickness. In some particular embodiments, tensile layer404is between 50 nm and 1 μm thick, and particularly about 200 nm in one embodiment. According to various embodiments, sacrificial layer400is much thicker than tensile layer404, such as at least 10 times as thick, for example. In alternative embodiments, sacrificial layer400may any thickness regardless of the thickness of tensile layer404.

FIG. 8billustrates a structure after photoresist layer406is applied and patterned according to a first mask pattern and an etch process is performed on tensile layer404. Thus,FIG. 8bshows tensile layer404patterned according to the first mask pattern.

FIG. 8cillustrates a structure after a thin film408is deposited on patterned tensile layer404. In various embodiments, thin film408may form a contour matching the patterning of tensile layer404. In other embodiments, additional sacrificial layer material, or another material, may be deposited and the structure may undergo a chemical mechanical polish (CMP), or equivalent, to planarize the structure before thin film408is deposited. According to various embodiments, thin film408may be formed of any type of material, such as silicon, polysilicon, oxide, any semiconductor material, or a combination of such layers. In other embodiments, thin film408may be formed of a polymer or a metal. Thin film408may be any thickness as described in reference to tensile layer404, such as about 200 nm, for example.

FIG. 8dillustrates a structure after photoresist layer410is applied and patterned according to a second mask pattern and a further etch process is performed on thin film408. Thus,FIG. 8dshows thin film408patterned according to the second mask pattern.

FIG. 8eillustrates a structure after tensile layer412is deposited on patterned thin film408and patterned tensile layer404. Again, tensile layer412may follow the contour of thin film408. In other embodiments, the structure may be planarized as described above before tensile layer412is deposited. Tensile layer412may be formed of any material and of any thickness as described in reference to tensile layer404above.

FIG. 8fillustrates a structure after photoresist layer414is applied and patterned according to a third mask pattern and another etch process is performed on tensile layer412. Thus,FIG. 8fshows tensile layer412patterned according to the third mask pattern.

FIGS. 8gand 8hillustrate cross sectional views of completed test structures after photoresist414is removed and sacrificial layer400is removed in a release step.FIG. 8gillustrates a structure that was not planarized during fabrication andFIG. 8hillustrates a structure that was planarized during fabrication between layer depositions, as mentioned above. As described in reference to the other figures, some of the structures may fracture after the sacrificial layer is removed and the thin film is released. In various embodiments, the tensile layers operate to apply a tensile stress on the order of 1 GPa. The cross section is taken at a point where a cutout is patterned as described inFIGS. 2-4, but the same general fabrication steps may be applied to form any of the structures discussed herein or equivalents. Further, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the various steps described herein may be modified to form an equivalent structure and such modifications are with the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 9illustrates an additional top view of semiconductor wafer100including embodiment test structures101and functional blocks110. According to various embodiments, test structure101may include test structure sets102and103as described in reference to the other figures, as well as other test structures, mechanical or electrical in nature. Test structures101may be distributed throughout semiconductor wafer100as shown, or in any other arrangement. Functional block110may include mechanical structures such as MEMS, integrated circuits, or a combination thereof. Functional block115is a functional block similar to functional block110except that test structure101is included within the functional block. In various embodiments, the functional blocks are the individual dies that will be singulated in a dicing process. Thus, functional block115includes test structures101that may be part of the die.

FIG. 10illustrates a flowchart diagram of a further embodiment fabrication sequence500for producing an embodiment test structure including steps502-512. According to various embodiments, step502includes disposing a sacrificial material on a substrate, step504includes disposing a thin film on the sacrificial material, and step506includes disposing a tensile stress material on the thin film. Step508includes patterning the tensile stress material to expose a portion of the thin film and step510includes patterning the thin film in the exposed portion to create a constricted region. Finally, step512includes removing the sacrificial material to release the test structure.

According to various embodiments, fabrication sequence500may be modified according to another order of process steps and may further include other processing steps. Particularly, fabrication sequence500may be modified according to any of the principles described in reference toFIGS. 8a-8h. For example, an additional tensile stress material may be disposed below the thin film, an electrode may be formed in a substrate, and additional patterning steps may be performed in any order.

FIG. 11illustrates a flowchart diagram of an embodiment method550of determining the tensile strength of a thin film using an embodiment test structure including steps552-558. According to various embodiments, step552includes fabricating a plurality of different test structures on a wafer. Each of the plurality of test structures includes a first layer that is the thin film and a second layer that is a material under tensile stress. Step554includes inspecting the plurality of different test structures and step556includes identifying a subset of the plurality of different test structures. The subset of the plurality of different test structures may include all the broken test structures. Based on the identified subset, step558includes determining the tensile strength of the thin film.

According to further embodiments, method550may be modified to include only a single test structure. In such embodiments, the structure may be monitored for a known or specific fracture strength. In some embodiments, two test structures may be used in order to establish a known upper and lower bound for fracture strength. In still further embodiments, fractured and non-fractured test structures may be used in electrical tests as well. In such embodiments, each test structure may include a conductive material coupled to metallization or contact pads, for example. Electrical signals may be applied to the conductive material across the beam forming the test structure. Fractured test structures exhibit open circuit characteristics and non-fractured test structures exhibit short circuit characteristics, which may provide useful electrical properties during test.

According to various embodiments, method550may include further steps and further tests. All the test structures described herein and equivalents may be included in the plurality of different test structures and numerous test groups may be selected in order to determine the tensile strength of the thin film. Further, multiple thin films of layers may be tested on a wafer by fabricating multiple test structures associated with different thin films or layers.

According to various embodiments, a micro-fabricated test structure includes a structure mechanically coupled between two rigid anchors and disposed above a substrate. The structure is released from the substrate and includes a test layer mechanically coupled between the two rigid anchors. The test layer includes a first region having a first cross-sectional area and a constricted region having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area. The structure also includes a first tensile stressed layer disposed on a surface of the test layer adjacent the first region.

In various embodiments, a width of the constricted region is tapered from a widest point to a narrowest point. A width of the constricted region may also be constant. The test layer may have a hole that forms the constricted region next to the hole. The test structure may also include an electrode disposed on the substrate below the structure. In some embodiments, the test structure includes a second tensile stressed layer disposed on a bottom surface of the test layer below the first region. The first tensile stressed layer may be disposed on a top surface of the test layer above the first region. In an embodiment, the second cross-sectional area is less than 50% of the first cross-sectional area. The first tensile stressed layer may be configured to apply a tensile stress to the test layer that is not operable to cause the test layer to fracture.

According to various embodiments, a micro-fabricated test structure includes a plurality of tensile stress structures fabricated on a wafer. Each of the plurality of tensile stress structures includes a test layer with a first portion and a second portion and a first tensile stress layer disposed on the first portion of the test layer and not on the second portion of the test layer. The second portion of the test layer includes a constricted region having a cross-sectional area smaller than the first portion of the test layer. A first tensile stress structure of the plurality of tensile stress structures has a first test dimension and a second tensile stress structure of the plurality of tensile stress structures has a second test dimension. The second test dimension is different from the first test dimension.

In various embodiments, the test dimension includes a planar area of the first portion of the test layer, a width of the test layer at a center of the constricted region, a length of the constricted region, or a planar area of a cutout region in the second portion of the test layer. The cutout region may include a region where the test layer is removed forming a hole in the test layer. In some embodiments, the cutout region has a rectangular shape, the cutout region has a circular shape, or the cutout region includes two holes in the test layer. The test dimension may vary from a first value for the first tensile stress structure to a second value for a last tensile stress structure.

In various embodiments, each of the plurality of tensile stress structures also includes a second tensile stress layer disposed on a surface of the test layer opposite the first tensile stress layer and on the first portion of the test layer and not on the second portion of the test layer. A first subset of the plurality of tensile stress structures may be configured to break during or after fabrication due to a tensile stress applied by the first tensile stress layer to the test layer and a second subset of the plurality of tensile stress structures may be configured not to break during fabrication. The test layer may form a beam between two rigid anchors and the beam has a constant width throughout an entire length of the beam. In other embodiments, the test layer forms a beam between two rigid anchors and the beam has a tapered width throughout a length of the beam such that the width is narrowest in the constricted region.

According to various embodiments, a micro-fabricated test structure includes a plurality of tensile stress structures fabricated on a wafer. Each of the plurality of tensile stress structures includes a test layer comprising a first portion and a second portion and a tensile stress layer disposed on the first portion of the test layer and not on the second portion of the test layer. The second portion of the test layer includes a constricted region having a cross-sectional area smaller than the first portion of the test layer. The plurality of tensile stress structures include tensile stress structures having tensile stress layers configured to apply different tensile stress densities to the test layer on which the respective tensile stress layer is disposed.

In various embodiments, a first subset of the plurality of tensile stress structures is configured to break during fabrication and a second subset of the plurality of tensile stress structures is not configured to break during fabrication. The first and second subsets indicate a tensile strength of the test layer. In some embodiments, the test layer forms a beam between two rigid anchors and the beam has a tapered width throughout a length of the beam such that the width is narrowest in the constricted region. In other embodiments, the beam has a constant width throughout an entire length of the beam and the constricted region comprises hole in the test layer. The plurality of tensile stress structures are may be configured with different sized constricted regions such that some constricted regions will fracture at a lower tensile stress.

According to various embodiments, a method of determining a tensile strength of a thin film includes fabricating a plurality of different test structures on a wafer, inspecting the plurality of different test structures, identifying a subset of the plurality of different test structures based on the inspecting, and determining the tensile strength of the thin film based on the identified subset. Each of the plurality of test structures includes a first layer including the thin film and a second layer with a material under tensile stress. The subset includes broken test structures.

In various embodiments, the plurality of different test structures includes structures under different tensile stresses. Each of the plurality of different test structures may include a constricted region of the first layer.

According to various embodiments, a method of fabricating a test structure includes disposing a sacrificial material on a substrate, disposing a thin film on the sacrificial material, disposing a first tensile stress material on the thin film, patterning the first tensile stress material to expose a portion of the thin film, patterning the thin film in the exposed portion to create a constricted region, and removing the sacrificial material to release the test structure.

In various embodiments, the method also includes disposing a second tensile stress material below the thin film and patterning the second tensile stress material. The tensile stress material may include silicon nitride. The thin film may include polysilicon. In some embodiments, the method also includes forming an electrode on the substrate below the thin film. The method may also include forming a plurality of test structures having different values of a test dimension. In some embodiments, the test dimension is related to a tensile stress applied to the thin film of each of the plurality of test structures and the different values correspond to different tensile stresses applied to the thin film of each of the plurality of test structures. In other embodiments, the test dimension is related to a cross-sectional area of a constricted region formed in the thin film of each of the plurality of test structures and the cross-sectional area of the constricted region corresponds to a fracture strength of the test structure.

Advantages of the various embodiments described herein may include a test structure that is easily used to determine the fracture strength or tensile strength of a thin film in a fabricated device. In some embodiments, the test structure may be used to determine the fracture strength without the use of specialized test equipment. Particularly, the test structure may be combined with optical inspection through a microscope. A further advantage includes a test structure that is highly compatible with IC or MEMS fabrication sequences and causes little or no impact on a fabrication sequence. According to a further advantage, test structures described herein may also be incorporated in an electrical test by applying an electrical signal to both fractured and non-fractured test structures including a conductive material. In such embodiments, the fractured test structures exhibit open circuit characteristics and the non-fractured test structures exhibit short circuit characteristics.