ASTM F1261M-96
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determining the Average Electrical Width of a Straight, Thin-Film Metal Line [Metric]
Standard Test Method for Determining the Average Electrical Width of a Straight, Thin-Film Metal Line [Metric]
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is designed for determining the average electrical width of a narrow thin-film metallization line.
1.2 This test method is intended for measuring thin metallization lines such as are used in microelectronic circuits where the width of the lines may range from micrometres to tenths of micrometres.
1.3 The test structure used in this test method may be measured while still part of a wafer, or part therefrom, or as part of a test chip bonded to a package and electrically accessible by means of package terminals.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn. Contact
ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: F 1261M – 96
METRIC
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Average Electrical Width of a Straight, Thin-
1
Film Metal Line [Metric]
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1261M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4. Summary of Test Method
1.1 This test method is designed for determining the average
4.1 This test method uses a cross-bridge test structure that
electrical width of a narrow thin-film metallization line.
has two components: One is a cross, consisting of two
1.2 This test method is intended for measuring thin metal-
perpendicularly intersecting metallization lines, which is used
lization lines such as are used in microelectronic circuits where
to determine the sheet resistance by a van der Pauw method in
the width of the lines may range from micrometres to tenths of
which a forcing current, I , through two adjacent arms to the
1
micrometres.
cross, develops a voltage that is measured using the remaining
1.3 The test structure used in this test method may be
two arms. The other component is a bridge element that
measured while still part of a wafer, or part therefrom, or as
includes the line whose width is to be determined. Two voltage
part of a test chip bonded to a package and electrically
taps contact this line at a known distance from each other. By
accessible by means of package terminals.
forcing a known current, I , through the line and measuring the
2
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
voltage difference beween the voltage taps, the mean width of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
the line can be calculated.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
5. Significance and Use
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5.1 The width of a conductor line is important to ensure
predictable timing performance of the electrical interconnect
2. Referenced Documents
system, to assure control of critical device parameters, and to
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2 control various processes involved in microcircuit manufac-
E 178 Practice for Dealing with Outlying Observations
ture.
F 1260 Test Method for Estimating Electromigration Me-
5.2 The width of a conductor line, with its thickness, defines
dian Time-to-Failure and Sigma of Integrated Circuit
3
the cross-sectional area and therefrom the current density for a
Metallizations
given current. Knowledge about the current density is impor-
3. Terminology
tant in procedures for estimating reliability against degradation
due to electromigration and in the conduct of electromigration
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
stress tests to obtain sample estimates of the median-time-to-
3.1.1 electrical linewidth—the width of the line as calcu-
failure and sigma (see Test Method F 1260).
lated by the product of the sheet resistance of the metal film
and the line length, divided by the line resistance.
6. Interferences
3.1.2 metallization—the thin-film metallic conductor used
as electrical interconnects in a microelectronic integrated
6.1 If the four cross-resistance values (in 8.1.8) differ by
circuit.
more than approximately 5 %, when “wafer-level” measure-
3.1.3 test structure—a passive metallization structure, with
ments are made with contact probes at room temperature, then
terminals to permit electrical access, that is fabricated on a
poor electrical contact may be the cause. Poor contacts will
semiconductor wafer by procedures used to manufacture mi-
lead to an erroneous value for the cross resistance as well as for
croelectronic integrated circuits.
the linewidth. When measurements are made at elevated
temperatures, the differences in the four cross-resistance values
will be larger. Good electrical contact will then be indicated
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-1 on
when the relative values of the cross resistances remain
Electronics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F01.11 on Quality and
Hardness Assurance. approximately the same with subsequent placements of the
Current edition approved June 10, 1996. Published August 1996. Originally
contact probes on the same or similar structures.
published as F 1261 – 89. Last previous edition F 1261 – 95.
2
6.2 Measurements should be conducted in a time that is
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
3
Annual Book of AST
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.