Patent ID: 7576357

Claim:
A system for detecting damage to at least one dielectric material, the system comprising: an IC die comprising: a substrate; a first metal layer above the substrate, the first metal layer including a first set of conductive patterns, the first set of conductive patterns having a first sized metal height and different metal line spaces for each pattern; and a second metal layer above the substrate, the second metal layer including a second set of conductive patterns, the second set of conductive patterns being substantially similar to the first set of conductive patterns, the second set of conductive patterns having a second sized metal height, wherein the second set of conductive patterns is the same as the first set of conductive patterns except for metal height; and a capacitive sensor for determining a first capacitance associated with the first set of conductive patterns and a second capacitance associated with the second set of conductive patterns, wherein the first capacitance and the second capacitance are compared to characterize trench sidewall and bottom damage.