| Abstract: | Time-dependent dielectric breakdown of gate oxides is one of the principal failure mechanisms of MOS integrated circuits. Voltage stressing of completed devices, which has been used to screen oxide defects and to thereby increase product reliability, is less effective with scaled high-density MOS integrated circuits because of limitations in the voltage which can be applied. Inprocess voltage stressing of silicon wafers, prior to completion of wafer processing, offers a feasible technique for achieving an effective voltage screen. Several possible techniques for inprocess voltage stressing are described, and the advantages and limitations of these are outlined. Data are presented showing typical fast-ramp dielectric breakdown distributions for MOS transistor arrays with an oxide thickness of 35 and 50 nm. Time-dependent dielectric breakdown distribution data on devices from the same wafers indicate that with all MOS transistors of an integrated circuit connected in parallel, as in one type of inprocess voltage stressing, defective oxide sites can be screened in periods of time ranging from a few seconds to hours. Inprocess voltage stressing, by decreasing susceptibility of completed devices to time-dependent dielectric breakdown, can substantially increase MOS integrated circuit reliability. |
