Patent ID: 8241927

Claim:
A method for monitoring at least one characteristic pertaining to a plurality of back end-of-the-line (BEOL) layers, the method comprising: forming a first capacitor array within the plurality of BEOL layers including first and second overlying contacts each formed in a different one of the plurality of BEOL layers; measuring the interlayer capacitance between the first and second overlying contacts; and converting the measured interlayer capacitance to a distance between the first and second overlying contacts, wherein converting the measured interlayer capacitance to a distance between the first and second overlying contacts is performed using a pre-established function, the pre-established function being determined prior to said converting, wherein the pre-established function is determined using one or more of empirical data and constitutive equations, and wherein the pre-established function describes the interlayer capacitance versus the distance between the first and second overlying contacts of the first capacitor array.