Patent ID: 12222409

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An object of the technology is to provide an inspection apparatus that can continuously change a magnetic field, and a method for inspecting a magnetic sensor.

In the following, some example embodiments and modification examples of the technology are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following description is directed to illustrative examples of the disclosure and not to be construed as limiting the technology. Factors including, without limitation, numerical values, shapes, materials, components, positions of the components, and how the components are coupled to each other are illustrative only and not to be construed as limiting the technology. Further, elements in the following example embodiments which are not recited in a most-generic independent claim of the disclosure are optional and may be provided on an as-needed basis. The drawings are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. Like elements are denoted with the same reference numerals to avoid redundant descriptions. Note that the description is given in the following order.

First, a configuration of an inspection apparatus1according to an example embodiment of the technology will be described with reference toFIGS.1to3.FIG.1is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of the inspection apparatus1.FIG.2is a plan view showing an essential part of the inspection apparatus1.FIG.3is a side view showing the essential part of the inspection apparatus1.

The inspection apparatus1according to the example embodiment is an apparatus configured to apply a magnetic field to a magnetic sensor to inspect an output of the magnetic sensor. As shown inFIGS.1to3, the inspection apparatus1includes a stage2, a first magnetic field generator3, and a second magnetic field generator4.

The stage2has a placing surface2afor a magnetic sensor to be placed on. InFIGS.1to3, a reference numeral10denotes an object to be inspected. The object to be inspected10is placed on the placing surface2a. The object to be inspected10may be a wafer including a plurality of undivided magnetic sensors or a diced magnetic sensor chip.

Now, we define X, Y, and Z directions as shown inFIGS.1to3. The X, Y, and Z directions are orthogonal to one another. As employed in the present application, “orthogonal” is a concept that covers not only being perfectly orthogonal at 90° but also being substantially orthogonal, i.e., orthogonal with a slight deviation from 90°. In the present example embodiment, a direction (inFIG.1, upward direction) perpendicular to the placing surface2aof the stage2will be referred to as the Z direction. The X and Y directions are both directions parallel to the placing surface2aof the stage2. The opposite directions to the X, Y, and Z directions will be referred to as —X, —Y, and —Z directions, respectively. As used herein, the term “above” refers to positions located forward of a reference position in the Z direction, and “below” refers to positions located on a side of the reference position opposite to “above”.

The first magnetic field generator3and the second magnetic field generator4are each disposed at a predetermined distance from the placing surface2ain a direction parallel to the Z direction. In particular, in the present example embodiment, the first and second magnetic field generators3and4are both disposed above the placing surface2a. The first magnetic field generator3is disposed forward of the object to be inspected10in the —X direction. The second magnetic field generator4is disposed forward of the object to be inspected10in the X direction.

The first magnetic field generator3is configured to singly generate a first magnetic field that is a magnetic field to be applied to the magnetic sensor, i.e., the object to be inspected10. The first magnetic field is in a first direction oblique to the direction parallel to the Z direction. The second magnetic field generator4is configured to singly generate a second magnetic field that is a magnetic field to be applied to the magnetic sensor, i.e., the object to be inspected10. The second magnetic field is in a second direction oblique to the direction parallel to the Z direction.

In particular, in the present example embodiment, each of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4is a magnet. The magnets may have a cylindrical shape. In such a case, the cylindrical magnet constituting the first magnetic field generator3and the cylindrical magnet constituting the second magnetic field generator4are disposed in a symmetrical orientation about a YZ plane intersecting the object to be inspected10. The cylindrical magnets each have an N pole and an S pole located symmetrically about an imaginary plane including the center axis of the cylinder. The center axis of the cylinder is oblique to the direction parallel to the Z direction. The N and S poles of each cylindrical magnet are arranged in a direction oblique to the direction parallel to the Z direction.

The first and second magnetic field generators3and4are each configured so that their orientation can be changed. Specifically, the inspection apparatus1further includes a control unit7that controls the orientation of each of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4. The first and second magnetic field generators3and4are connected to columnar support members5and6, respectively, that are coupled to not-shown driving devices such as a motor. The control unit7controls the not-shown driving devices. The orientation of each of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4is thereby changed.

“Change of Orientation” covers a case where the orientation of each of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4is changed without changing the orientation of each of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4with respect to the object to be inspected10and a case where the orientation of each of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4is changed while changing the orientation of each of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4with respect to the object to be inspected10. Suppose, for example, that the magnet constituting the first magnetic field generator3and the magnet constituting the second magnetic field generator4are rotated by the control unit7axially rotating the respective support members5and6. In such a case, the orientation of each of the magnets constituting the first and second magnetic field generators3and4with respect to the object to be inspected10does not change. Suppose, for example, that the direction of the magnet constituting the first magnetic field generator3and the direction of the magnet constituting the second magnetic field generator4are changed by the control unit7rotating the support members5and6about respective axes parallel to the Y direction. In such a case, the orientation of each of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4with respect to the object to be inspected10changes.

The relative position of each of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4with respect to the magnetic sensor, i.e., the object to be inspected10can also be changed. Specifically, for example, the relative position may be changed by the control unit7moving the support members5and6in a predetermined direction. The predetermined direction may be at least one of the axial directions of the respective support members5and6, a direction parallel to the X direction, and the direction parallel to the Z direction. The relative position may be changed by moving the stage2in a predetermined direction.

The first and second magnetic field generators3and4are configured to cooperatively generate a composite magnetic field that is a magnetic field to be applied to the magnetic sensor, i.e., the object to be inspected10. The composite magnetic field contains a component in a direction parallel to an imaginary plane perpendicular to the placing surface2a. In particular, in the present example embodiment, the imaginary plane is a plane parallel to the YZ plane.

The inspection apparatus1further includes a data acquisition unit8. The data acquisition unit8is configured to apply a predetermined magnitude of power supply voltage to the magnetic sensor and receive an input of a detection signal output from the magnetic sensor. The magnetic sensor and the data acquisition unit8are electrically connected to each other via a plurality of lines.

Next, an operation of the inspection apparatus1and the composite magnetic field will be described in detail with reference toFIGS.4to6.FIGS.4and5are explanatory diagrams for describing the operation of the inspection apparatus1.FIG.6is an explanatory diagram for describing the composite magnetic field. InFIGS.4and5, an arrow denoted by the reference symbol MFa represents the first magnetic field, and an arrow denoted by the reference symbol MFb the second magnetic field. InFIG.6, the reference symbol P denotes the imaginary plane intersecting the object to be inspected10and parallel to the YZ plane.

FIG.4shows a state where the N and S poles of the magnet constituting the first magnetic field generator3are arranged in a direction tilted from the Z direction toward the X direction, and the N and S poles of the magnet constituting the second magnetic field generator4are arranged in a direction tilted from the Z direction toward the —X direction. In such a state, the direction of the first magnetic field MFa, i.e., the first direction is a direction tilted from the Z direction toward the X direction. The direction of the second magnetic field MFb, i.e., the second direction is a direction tilted from the Z direction toward the —X direction.

The first magnetic field MFa is the magnetic field generated by the first magnetic field generator3alone. The second magnetic field MFb is the magnetic field generated by the second magnetic field generator4alone. The direction of the first magnetic field MFa shown inFIG.4is that on the assumption that there is no second magnetic field generator4. The direction of the second magnetic field MFb shown inFIG.4is that on the assumption that there is no first magnetic field generator3. In fact, the first and second magnetic field generators3and4cooperatively generate a composite magnetic field MFc. The composite magnetic field MFc corresponds to a magnetic field obtained by combining the first and second magnetic fields MFa and MFb. For the sake of convenience, inFIG.4, the composite magnetic field MFc is shown as a combined magnetic field of the first and second magnetic fields MFa and MFb.

The composite magnetic field MFc is applied to the magnetic sensor, i.e., the object to be inspected10. The composite magnetic field MFc contains a component in a direction parallel to the imaginary plane P. The component in the direction parallel to the imaginary plane P may be a main component of the composite magnetic field MFc. Alternatively, the composite magnetic field MFc may be free of a component in a direction perpendicular to the imaginary plane P. For the sake of convenience, in the following description, the composite magnetic field MFc shall contain only a component in a direction parallel to the imaginary plane P and no component in the direction perpendicular to the imaginary plane P. In the state shown inFIG.4, the direction of the composite magnetic field MFc is the Z direction.

FIG.5shows a state where the magnet constituting the first magnetic field generator3and the magnet constituting the second magnetic field generator4are each rotated 180° from the state shown inFIG.4. In such a state, the N and S poles of the magnet constituting the first magnetic field generator3are arranged in a direction tilted from the —Z direction toward the —X direction, and the N and S poles of the magnet constituting the second magnetic field generator4are arranged in a direction tilted from the —Z direction toward the X direction. In such a state, the direction of the first magnetic field MFa, i.e., the first direction is a direction tilted from the —Z direction toward the —X direction. The direction of the second magnetic field MFb, i.e., the second direction is a direction tilted from the —Z direction toward the X direction. The direction of the composite magnetic field MFc is the —Z direction.

As shown inFIGS.4and5, the direction of the composite magnetic field MFc changes as the orientation of each of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4is changed. InFIG.6, the symbol θ represents the angle that the direction of the composite magnetic field MFc forms with respect to the Y direction. The first and second magnetic field generators3and4are configured to cooperatively change the direction of the composite magnetic field MFc so that the angle θ changes. In the example embodiment, the direction of the first magnetic field MFa rotates as the magnet constituting the first magnetic field generator3is rotated. The direction of the second magnetic field MFb rotates as the magnet constituting the second magnetic field generator4is rotated. As a result, the direction of the composite magnetic field MFc rotates. The angle θ changes within the range of 0° or more and not more than 360°. The direction-rotating composite magnetic field MFc is applied to the object to be inspected10as a rotating magnetic field.

Next, first and second examples of the magnetic sensor will be described. First, the first example of the magnetic sensor will be described with reference toFIG.7. A magnetic sensor20shown inFIG.7includes a substrate21having a main surface21athat is a flat surface, and a magnetic detection element22.

The magnetic detection element22is configured to detect a target magnetic field that is a magnetic field to be detected by the magnetic sensor20and contains a component in a direction perpendicular to the main surface21a. In the first example, the substrate21further has a groove portion21copen in the main surface21a. The groove portion21cincludes an inclined surface21binclined with respect to the main surface21a. The inclined surface21bmay be a flat surface or a curved surface. The magnetic detection element22is disposed on the inclined surface21b.

If the magnetic sensor20is inspected using the inspection apparatus1shown inFIGS.1to3, the magnetic sensor20is placed on the placing surface2aso that the main surface21ais parallel to the placing surface2a. Hereinafter, the magnetic sensor20will also be described by using the X, Y, and Z directions shown inFIGS.1to3. The main surface21ais a flat surface parallel to an XY plane. The component of the target magnetic field in the direction perpendicular to the main surface21ais a component in the direction parallel to the Z direction.

A direction rotated from the Z direction to the —X direction by a will be referred to as a U direction. A direction opposite to the U direction will be referred to as a —U direction. The inclined surface21bmay be a flat surface parallel to a UY plane.

The magnetic detection element22may be a spin-valve magnetoresistive element or an anisotropic magnetoresistive element. A magnetoresistive element will hereinafter be referred to as an MR element. In the example shown inFIG.7, the magnetic detection element22is a spin-valve MR element. The spin-valve MR element includes a magnetization pinned layer whose magnetization direction is fixed, a free layer whose magnetization direction is variable, and a nonmagnetic layer disposed between the magnetization pinned layer and the free layer. The spin-valve MR element may be a tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) element or a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) element. The nonmagnetic layer of the TMR element is a tunnel barrier layer. The nonmagnetic layer of the GMR element is a nonmagnetic conductive layer.

The spin-valve MR element changes in resistance with the angle that the magnetization direction of the free layer forms with respect to the magnetization direction of the magnetization pinned layer. The resistance is minimized when the angle is 0°. The resistance is maximized when the angle is 180°. InFIG.7, the solid arrow indicates the magnetization direction of the magnetization pinned layer. In the example shown inFIG.7, the magnetization direction of the magnetization pinned layer is the —U direction.

The target magnetic field may be a magnetic field whose direction rotates within an imaginary plane parallel to the YZ plane. In such a case, the target magnetic field contains a component in a direction parallel to the Y direction in addition to a component in the direction parallel to the Z direction. Suppose that the target magnetic field is divided into an in-plane component that is a component parallel to the UY plane, and a perpendicular component that is a component perpendicular to the UY plane. The direction of the in-plane component changes with the direction of the target magnetic field. The magnetization direction of the free layer changes with the direction of the in-plane component. The resistance of the magnetic detection element22, i.e., the MR element changes with the direction of the in-plane component. The magnetic sensor20outputs a signal corresponding to the resistance of the MR element as a detection signal.

Next, the second example of the magnetic sensor will be described with reference toFIG.8. A magnetic sensor30shown inFIG.8includes a not-shown substrate having a main surface that is a flat surface, and a magnetic detection element31. If the magnetic sensor30is inspected using the inspection apparatus1shown inFIGS.1to3, the magnetic sensor30is placed on the placing surface2aso that the main surface of the not-shown substrate is parallel to the placing surface2a. Hereinafter, the magnetic sensor30will also be described by using the X, Y, and Z directions shown inFIGS.1to3. The main surface of the not-shown substrate is a flat surface parallel to the XY plane.

The magnetic detection element31is disposed above the main surface of the not-shown substrate. In the example shown inFIG.8, the magnetic detection element31is a spin-valve MR element. InFIG.8, the solid arrow indicates the magnetization direction of the magnetization pinned layer of the spin-valve MR element. In the example shown inFIG.8, the magnetization direction of the magnetization pinned layer is the X direction. The free layer has a shape anisotropy with the magnetization easy axis in the direction parallel to the Y direction.

The magnetic detection element31is configured to detect a target magnetic field that is the magnetic field to be detected by the magnetic sensor30and contains a component in a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the not-shown substrate, i.e., the direction parallel to the Z direction. In the second example, the magnetic sensor30further includes a lower yoke32and an upper yoke33. The lower and upper yokes32and33are each formed of a soft magnetic material. The lower and upper yokes32and33each have a rectangular solid shape long in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction. The lower yoke32is disposed closer to the main surface of the not-shown substrate than is the magnetic detection element31. The upper yoke33is disposed farther from the main surface of the not-shown substrate than is the magnetic detection element31. When seen from above, the magnetic detection element31is disposed between the lower yoke32and the upper yoke33.

The lower and upper yokes32and33receive a component of the target magnetic field in the Z direction, and output an output magnetic field component in the X direction. The lower and upper yokes32and33also receive a component of the target magnetic field in the —Z direction, and output an output magnetic field component in the —X direction. The resistance of the magnetic detection element31, i.e., the MR element changes with the strength of the output magnetic field component. The strength of the output magnetic field components has a correspondence with the strength of the respective components in the Z and —Z directions. The magnetic sensor30outputs a signal corresponding to the resistance of the MR element as a detection signal.

Next, a method for inspecting a magnetic sensor according to the example embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS.1and9.FIG.9is a flowchart showing the method for inspecting a magnetic sensor. In the method for inspecting a magnetic sensor, first, the magnetic sensor, i.e., the object to be inspected10is placed on the placing surface2aof the stage2(step S1). Next, the first and second magnetic field generators3and4are disposed at respective predetermined positions (step S2). Specifically, the magnet constituting the first magnetic field generator3and the magnet constituting the second magnetic field generator4are disposed at the respective predetermined positions.

Next, the control unit7controls the orientation and position of each of the first magnetic field generator3(magnet) and the second magnetic field generator4(magnet), whereby a composite magnetic field MFc having a predetermined direction and strength is generated (step S3). Next, the data acquisition unit8inspects the output of the magnetic sensor (step S4).

In step S4of inspecting the output of the magnetic sensor, the first and second magnetic field generators3and4may be operated in a cooperative manner to change the direction of the composite magnetic field MFc so that the angle θ shown inFIG.6changes. The angle θ may be continuously changed within the range of 0° or more and not more than 360°. For example, the direction of the composite magnetic field MFc can be fixed at a predetermined angle θ like 0°, 90°, 180°, or 270°.

In step S4of inspecting the output of the magnetic sensor, the output of the magnetic sensor may be inspected while changing the strength of the composite magnetic field MFc. The strength of the composite magnetic field MFc can be changed by changing the relative position of each of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4with respect to the magnetic sensor, i.e., the object to be inspected10, or by changing the direction of the magnet constituting the first magnetic field generator3and the direction of the magnet constituting the second magnetic field generator4.

If the object to be inspected10is a wafer including a plurality of undivided magnetic sensors, the plurality of magnetic sensors may be inspected either simultaneously or one by one in step S4of inspecting the output of a magnetic sensor. If the magnetic sensors are inspected one by one, the positions of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4may be fixed during inspection. The magnetic sensors may be inspected while changing the relative position of each of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4with respect to the stage2from one magnetic sensor to another.

As described above, the inspection apparatus1and the method for inspecting a magnetic sensor according to the present example embodiment generate the composite magnetic field MFc to be applied to the magnetic sensor using the first and second magnetic field generators3and4that can be changed in orientation. According to the present example embodiment, the composite magnetic field MFc can thus be continuously changed.

The technology is not limited to the foregoing example embodiment, and various modification may be made thereto. For example, the shape of the magnet constituting each of the first and second magnetic field generators3and4is not limited to the circular cylindrical shape, and may be an elliptical cylindrical shape, a prismatic shape, or a bar shape. The first and second magnetic field generators3and4are not limited to magnets, either, and may be magnetic field generators including a coil.

Obviously, various modification examples and variations of the technology are possible in the light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof, the technology may be practiced in other embodiments than the foregoing example embodiment.