Semiconductor chip embedded with a test circuit

A semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor chip body having a first surface on which pad parts are formed and an opposing second surface. Through-electrodes may be connected to the pad parts and formed to pass through the semiconductor chip body. Determination units may be connected to the through-electrodes and may be enabled to determine whether the pad parts and the through-electrodes are electrically connected with each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Korean patent application number 10-2010-0034737 filed on Apr. 15, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a semiconductor chip embedded with a test circuit.

As semiconductor device manufacturing technology has developed, semiconductor packages having semiconductor devices have been increasingly capable of processing an increased amount of data.

Semiconductor packages are manufactured through a semiconductor chip manufacturing process for manufacturing semiconductor chips on a wafer made of silicon with high purity, a die sorting process for electrically inspecting the semiconductor chips, and a packaging process for packaging good quality semiconductor chips.

In semiconductor packages, it is the norm that electrical connections are formed using metal wires.

However, use of metal wires may introduce problems in the semiconductor packages. For example, there may be degradation of signal integrity due to close proximity of the metal wires. Therefore, to help suppress the electrical characteristics of the semiconductor packages from being degraded, and enable the miniaturization of the semiconductor packages, there has been increasing use of through-electrodes.

In semiconductor packages using the through-electrodes, the electrical degradation of the semiconductor packages is substantially prevented, operation speeds of the semiconductor chips are improved, and it is possible to achieve further miniaturization of the semiconductor packages.

In general, a semiconductor chip using through-electrodes has an increased number of pads when compared to a semiconductor chip not using through-electrodes. This resulting pitch decrease may present problems. For example, when performing a test, an existing probe type may encounter difficulties because a semiconductor chip may have too fine a pitch. In particular, in a wafer having memory chips for high speed operation, since several hundreds or several thousands of pads are internally connected with one another, it may be impossible to separately perform tests for electrical connections between the pads and the through-electrodes.

Efforts have been made to manufacture separate test boards. However, this may lead to problems such as excessive lead time and cost to manufacture the test equipment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a semiconductor chip embedded with a test circuit capable of determining whether a pad part and a through-electrode are electrically connected with each other.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor chip body having a first surface on which pad parts are formed and an opposing second surface. Through-electrodes may be connected to the pad parts and formed to pass through the semiconductor chip body. Determination units may be connected to the through-electrodes and may be enabled to determine whether the pad parts and the through-electrodes are electrically connected with each other.

Each determination unit may include a determination element disposed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the semiconductor chip body. A test connection line may connect the determination element to a corresponding through-electrode.

The determination element may include any one of a light emitting element, a thermoelectric element, and a piezoelectric element.

The test connection line may include a first test connection line connecting one end of the determination element to the corresponding through-electrode, and a second test connection line for grounding the determination element.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor chip body having a first surface on which pad parts are formed and an opposing surface, connection lines connecting the pad parts with one another. Test pads may be disposed under the pad parts in the semiconductor chip body and through-electrodes may be connected to the pad parts and formed to extend from the second surface of the semiconductor chip body through the test pads. The semiconductor chip body may comprise determination units enabled to determine whether the pad parts and the through-electrodes are electrically connected with each other.

Each determination unit may include a determination element disposed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the semiconductor chip body. A test connection line may connect the determination element to a corresponding test pad.

The determination element may include any one of a light emitting element, a thermoelectric element, and a piezoelectric element.

The test connection line may include a first test connection line connecting the determination element to the corresponding through-electrode and a second test connection line grounding the determination element.

The connection lines may be disposed in a serial pattern when viewed from the top, and the pad parts may be daisy chained via the connection lines.

The connection lines may include fuse circuits. The connection lines may be selectively cut through laser cutting or electrical cutting.

The semiconductor chip body may have openings to expose portions of test connection lines so that they may be cut.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor chip may include a semiconductor chip body having a first surface on which pad parts are formed and an opposing second surface. Connection lines may connect the pad parts with one another. Test pads may also be formed on the second surface of the semiconductor chip body. Through-electrodes may be connected to the pad parts and formed to extend from the second surface of the semiconductor chip body through the test pads. Determination units may be enabled to determine whether the pad parts and the through-electrodes are electrically connected with each other.

Each determination unit may include a determination element disposed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the semiconductor chip body. A test connection line may connect the determination element to a corresponding through-electrode.

The determination element may include any one of a light emitting element, a thermoelectric element, and a piezoelectric element.

The test connection line may include a first test connection line connecting the determination element to the corresponding through-electrode, and a second test connection line may ground the determination element.

The connection lines may be disposed in a serial pattern when viewed from the top, and the pad parts may be daisy chained via the connection lines.

The connection lines may include fuse circuits that may be cut through laser cutting or electrical cutting.

The through-electrodes may be applied with data signals or power signals.

The semiconductor chip may further include repair through-electrodes.

The through-electrodes and the repair through-electrodes may be formed to be connected with each other.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a semiconductor chip in which a determination unit may be connected with a through-electrode so that it may be possible to test whether the through-electrode and a corresponding pad part are electrically connected with each other.

It is to be understood herein that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated in order to more clearly depict certain features of the invention.

FIG. 1is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor chip in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, there is shown a semiconductor chip100comprising a semiconductor chip body101, through-electrodes130, and determination units150.

The semiconductor chip body101has a top surface101aand a bottom surface101b. The semiconductor chip body101includes pad parts110disposed on the top surface101aand a circuit unit170connected with the pad parts110.

Each pad part110can include a bonding pad112disposed on the top surface101aand a connection member114formed on the bonding pad112. The connection member114may be, for example, a solder or a bump. The circuit unit170can include a data storage section (not shown) for storing data and a data processing section (not shown) for processing the data stored in the data storage section.

The through-electrodes130are formed through the semiconductor chip body101to be connected to the pad parts110. The through-electrodes130can be formed to extend from the bottom surface101bto the top surface101aof the semiconductor chip body101. The pad parts110can also be disposed on the bottom surface101b. In this case, the through-electrodes130can be formed to extend from the top surface101ato the bottom surface101bof the semiconductor chip body101.

The determination units150are connected to the through-electrodes130and may function to determine whether the pad parts110and the through-electrodes130are electrically connected with each other. Each determination unit150includes a determination element152disposed on either the top surface101aor the bottom surface101b, and a test connection line154connecting the determination element152to the through-electrode130.

The test connection line154can have a first test connection line154aconnecting a first end of the determination element152to the through-electrode130and a second test connection line154bconnecting a second end of the determination element152to an electrical ground. The determination element152can be, for example, any one of a light emitting element, a thermoelectric element, or a piezoelectric element. Accordingly, when a through-electrode is electrically connected to a corresponding pad part, current and/or voltage is provided to the determination element152. The output of the determination element152may then indicate that the through-electrode is electrically connected to a corresponding pad part.

Accordingly, in a semiconductor chip fabricated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, it may be possible to test whether the through-electrodes and pad parts are electrically connected with each other.

FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor chip in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, andFIGS. 3 and 4are plan views illustrating one surface of the semiconductor chip shown inFIG. 2.

Referring toFIG. 2, there is shown a semiconductor chip200comprising a semiconductor chip body201, connection lines220, through-electrodes230, and determination units250. In addition, the semiconductor chip200can include test pads240.

The semiconductor chip body201has a top surface201aand a bottom surface201b. The semiconductor chip body201includes pad parts210disposed on the top surface201aand a circuit unit270connected with the pad parts210. The circuit unit270can include a data storage section (not shown) for storing data and a data processing section (not shown) for processing the data stored in the data storage section.

Each of the pad parts210can have a first bonding pad212disposed on the top surface201aof the semiconductor chip body201, a connection member214on the first bonding pad212, a second bonding pad216disposed in the semiconductor chip body201, and via patterns218connecting the first bonding pad212to the second bonding pad216. The connection member214may be, for example, a solder or a bump.

All the connection lines220can be connected with one another so that the pad parts210can have the same potential. The connection lines220may be electrically connected with the second bonding pads216of the pad parts210. As shown inFIG. 3, the connection lines220can be disposed in a serial pattern when viewed from the top, and the pad parts210may be daisy chained via the connection lines220. Or, as shown inFIG. 4, the connection lines220can be disposed in a matrix pattern when viewed from the top, in such a way as to be connected with all the pad parts210. Accordingly, various configurations of the connection lines220may be used to connect the pad parts210.

Referring again toFIG. 2, the test pads240can be disposed under the pad parts210in the semiconductor chip body201. The test pads240can include material with good electrical conductivity such as, for example, copper or gold. The test pads240may be designed to be electrically insulated from the pad parts210and be disposed at positions near the pad parts210.

The through-electrodes230are formed to be connected to the pad parts210and extend through the test pads240from the bottom surface201bof the semiconductor chip body201. In this case, the through-electrodes230and the test pads240can form “side contacts.”

The determination units250are electrically connected with the respective test pads240and function to test whether the pad parts210and the through-electrodes230are electrically connected with each other. Each of the determination unit250includes a determination element252disposed on the top surface201aor the bottom surface201bof the semiconductor chip body201and a test connection line254which connects the determination element252to the test pad240.

Although not shown, there is a ground line leading from the determination element252, much as the second test connection line154binFIG. 1is a ground line. There may be as many determination elements252as there are through-electrodes230. The determination element252may be, for example, any one of a light emitting element, a thermoelectric element, and a piezoelectric element.

The connection lines220can include fuse circuits that may be selectively cut through laser cutting or electrical cutting. The connection lines220may be cut, for example, after testing whether the through-electrodes230and the pad parts210are electrically connected with each other. Thus, each of the pad parts210and its corresponding through-electrodes230can be electrically independent from each other.

This will be described below in detail with reference to a drawing.

FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view explaining a method of testing the semiconductor chip in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 5, if power is applied during testing by bringing a contact jig290into contact with at least one of the pad parts210of the semiconductor chip200in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention described inFIGS. 2-4, the pad parts210may have the same potential since they are all connected together by the connection lines220.

As an example, when assuming that the determination elements252of the respective determination units250are light emitting elements, if the through-electrode230and the pad part210form a normal electrical connection, the light emitting element252connected to the through-electrode230may emit light as shown on the left side. If the through-electrode230and the pad part210form an abnormal electrical connection or are electrically disconnected from each other, as indicated by the reference character F on the right side, the light emitting element252connected to the disconnected through-electrode230does not emit light.

Accordingly, the semiconductor chip200in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may be designed such that the determination elements252and the through-electrodes230define one-to-one correspondence. As a consequence, whether the respective through-electrodes230and the respective pad parts210are electrically connected with each other can be tested using the respective determination elements252.

Therefore, in the semiconductor chip in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, whether respective through-electrodes and respective pad parts are electrically connected with each other can be tested by the medium of determination units which generate any one of light, heat and vibration in response to external power application. Hence, a high responding speed can be accomplished when compared to the conventional probe test, and the reliability of a test, among others, can be improved since it is not necessary to read current or power.

Moreover, in an embodiment of the present invention described above, test circuits disposed in a semiconductor chip body can be simultaneously operated by applying power to a portion of pad parts. Accordingly, testing whether the pad parts and the through-electrodes are electrically connected with each other can be tested even under a fine pitch condition when only a portion of the pads may be accessed by a test fixture.

FIG. 6is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor chip in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The semiconductor chip described inFIG. 6has substantially the same construction as the semiconductor chip described inFIGS. 2-5. Thus, repeated descriptions will be omitted, and only differences will be described.

Referring toFIG. 6, there is shown a semiconductor chip300comprising a semiconductor chip body301with first openings360exposing portions of test connection lines354and second openings362exposing portions of connection lines320.

After testing whether pad parts310and through-electrodes330are electrically connected with each other is completed, the test connection lines354and the connection lines320of the semiconductor chip300may be cut using a laser cutting unit (not shown) along the first openings360and the second openings362. Accordingly, the parts310and corresponding through-electrodes330may be separated from one another and from determination units350. In the case where the connection lines320are cut not using a laser cutting unit, but through electrical cutting, the second openings362may not need to be defined.

The through-electrodes330can have through-parts330aformed to pass from the bottom surface301bto the top surface301aof the semiconductor chip body301, and extended parts330bextending from the through-parts330ato the outside of the bottom surface301bof the semiconductor chip body301.

Hereafter, a semiconductor chip capable of self-repair will be described.

FIG. 7is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor chip in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 8is a plan view illustrating a top surface of the semiconductor chip shown inFIG. 7.FIG. 9is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a semiconductor chip having a poor contact is repaired.FIG. 10is a bottom view illustrating the bottom surface of the semiconductor chip shown inFIG. 9.

The semiconductor chip in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention has substantially the same construction as various semiconductor chips described with respect toFIGS. 1-6. Thus, repeated descriptions will be omitted, and only differences therebetween will be described.

Referring toFIG. 7, there is shown a semiconductor chip400comprising test pads440and determination units450formed on a bottom surface401bof a semiconductor chip body401. In this case, through-electrodes430can be formed to extend through the test pads440from the bottom surface401bto connect with pad parts410. Furthermore, the semiconductor chip400can include repair through-electrodes435.

The repair through-electrodes435can be formed to pass through a top surface401aand the bottom surface401boutside the through-electrodes430. The repair through-electrodes435may be formed to repair through-electrodes430, and can have the same diameter as the through-electrodes430. Alternatively, the repair through-electrodes435and the through-electrodes430may have different diameters.

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, connection lines420are formed to connect the pad parts410with one another and connect the pad parts410and the repair through-electrodes435with each other. The connection lines420can be disposed in a serial and/or matrix pattern when viewed from the top, such that they are connected with all the pad parts410and all the through-electrodes435for repair. The connection lines420can include fuse circuits that may be selectively cut through laser cutting or electrical cutting.

The through-electrodes430and the pad parts410can be disposed in two lines along the center portion of the semiconductor chip body401. The through-electrodes430and the pad parts410can be disposed adjacent to both edges of the semiconductor chip body401or in one line along the center portion of the semiconductor chip body401. The specific layout of the through-electrodes430and the pad parts410may be design dependent.

The through-electrodes430and the pad parts410are applied with data signals or power signals. For example, power signals can be applied to through-electrodes430disposed in first through third and sixth through eighth rows and the corresponding pad parts410. Data signals can be applied, for example, to through-electrodes430disposed in fourth and fifth rows and the corresponding pad parts410.

In general, poor contacts between power related through-electrodes430and the corresponding pad parts410may not adversely affect operation of the semiconductor chip400. However, if poor contacts exist between some of the data signal carrying through-electrodes430and the corresponding pad parts410, the operation of the semiconductor chip400may be seriously affected.

Therefore, where poor contacts are detected between the data carrying through-electrodes430and the corresponding pad parts410, the through-electrodes430be repaired using a corresponding repair through-electrodes435. The number of repair through-electrodes435may be the same as or less than the through-electrodes430applied with the data signals. However, the number of repair through-electrodes need not be limited so. For example, additional repair through-electrodes may be present for various application purposes including, for example, providing additional power and ground paths.

Referring toFIGS. 9 and 10, as a result of a test for checking electrical connections between the pad parts410and the through-electrodes430, a through-electrode430in zone G may be identified as providing a poor electrical contact with the corresponding pad part410. Accordingly, an alternate data path may be provided by using the repair through-electrode435by way of a repair line480.

One end of the repair line480may be connected to the through-electrode430and the other end of the repair line480may be connected to the repair through-electrode435. The repair line480can be disposed on the top surface401aor the bottom surface401bof the semiconductor chip body401. The repair line480may comprise, for example, a metal pattern formed through a plating process or a metal wire.

After the repair process is completed, the connection lines420are selectively cut through laser cutting or electrical cutting. The connection lines420may be cut in such a manner that the pad parts410and the corresponding through-electrodes430are separated from other pad parts410and their corresponding through-electrodes430.