Patent ID: 6960802

Claim:
A method for performing passive voltage contrast on a silicon on insulator (SOI) device comprising the steps of: grinding a first portion of a substrate of said SOI device with a dimpling tool; etching a second portion of said substrate of said SOI device with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) following said grinding of said SOI device with said dimpling tool; etching a third portion of said substrate and a portion of a box insulator of said SOI device with hydrofluoric acid (HF) following said etching of said SOI device with said TMAH; applying a conductive coating to said etched second and third portions of said substrate and said box insulator of said SOI device; applying said conductive coating to a portion of a body of said SOI device; and directing a beam of electrons at said SOI device to detect a secondary emission from said SOI device.