Patent ID: 6879925

Claim:
A metal interconnect reliability evaluating device comprising: first means for finding current density and temperature distribution of the metal interconnect using a numerical analysis method; second means for calculating a parameter for an EM damage of each of elements of the metal interconnect, each of the elements being divided into a predetermined shape, based on the current density, the temperature distribution, a predetermined material property constant of an interconnect material and parameter equation for obtaining reduced number of atoms per unit time and unit volume; third means for finding reduction in volume of each of the elements; and fourth means for finding a change in thickness of each of the elements; wherein processing is performed by repeating operation of the first through fourth means until the elements penetrating the thickness and/or elements having a temperature exceeding a melting point of material of the metal interconnect occupy a width of the interconnect, whereby a lifetime and failure location of the interconnect are estimated.