Patent ID: 8350583

Claim:
A test structure comprising: first, second and third probe pads, the first probe pad being connected to ground; a comb-like structure including a plurality of grounded tines connected to the first probe pad; a plurality of floating tines, each floating tine provided in between the grounded tines; a plurality of switching devices, each switching device coupled with an end portion of each floating tine, and connecting the floating tines to the second probe pad; and the third probe pad being a control pad connected to the plurality of switching devices, which controls on and off states of the switching devices during testing, wherein the control pad is connected through a resistor to ground, with gates of the switching devices being connected to the control pad and grounded via the resistor; and during voltage contrast inspection, the switching devices are forced off by the resistor and a charge is induced on the floating tines to detect any shorts, and when a short exists between a respective floating tine and a grounded tine adjacent to the respective floating tine, the respective floating tine is grounded.