This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-001286, filed Jan. 6, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a semiconductor device.
In a semiconductor device including, on the surface of a semiconductor (Si) substrate, a circuit portion formed from multilayered interconnections, the lower interconnections and the like are sometimes corrected after completion. As a method for this, backside FIB processing has been proposed which corrects interconnections and the like by irradiating a semiconductor substrate with a focused ion beam (FIB) from the lower surface. With this backside FIB processing, forming of pad for signal acquisition or reconnection of interconnections is performed in the circuit portion.
In general, according to one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a circuit portion, wells, and dummy wells. A circuit portion is formed on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. The wells are of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type. Each of wells is formed in the semiconductor substrate on an upper surface side, constitutes the circuit portion, and functions as an element. The dummy wells are of the second conductivity type. Each of the dummy wells is formed in the semiconductor substrate on the upper surface side, does not constitute the circuit portion, and does not function as an element.
In backside FIB processing, a correction point is processed while observing an FIB image of an interconnection or a transistor by irradiating the semiconductor substrate with an ion beam from the lower surface side. At this time, since the semiconductor substrate has no characteristic pattern on the back side, the position cannot be specified in the FIB image. To specify the approximate position of the target interconnection, an optical image is generally used together with the FIB image.
In the backside FIB processing, a trench is formed for the correction point from the lower surface side of the semiconductor substrate to detect the n-well in the semiconductor substrate on the upper surface side. After the point is specified using the n-well pattern, alignment with CAD (Computer Aided Design) data is done, thereby specifying the final interconnection correction point and pad formation point.
In some cases, however, no n-well exists near the interconnection correction point. The range of the trench formable by one process is limited. For this reason, if no n-well exists near the correction point, the n-well is not detected even when the trench is formed. In this case, trench formation needs to be performed twice or more. That is, after trench formation, point specification, and CAD data alignment are done in another place with the n-well, another trench adjacent to the trench needs to be formed again.
That is, if the n-well is not detected, specifying the place of the correction point becomes difficult. In addition, trench formation is very time-consuming, and performing this step twice or more greatly prolongs the process time. Furthermore, since the distance from the place where the n-well has been specified to the correction point increases, misalignment with the CAD data readily occurs. As a result, the process accuracy lowers.
The embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings.
An FIB processing apparatus for performing FIB processing for a semiconductor substrate according to each embodiment will be described below with reference to
As shown in
A semiconductor chip 100 as the FIB processing target is set and fixed on the sample table 10.
The ion beam gun 11 irradiates the semiconductor chip 100 with an FIB of Ga ions or the like. This FIB irradiation makes it possible to process (etch) the semiconductor chip 100 and observe the FIB image. The FIB intensity can appropriately be changed. The higher the intensity is, the higher the process speed is. The lower the intensity is, the lower the process speed is. Deflecting the FIB allows it to scan on the semiconductor chip 100. The scanning speed and scanning width at this time can appropriately be changed. Note that it is also possible to scan the FIB on the semiconductor chip 100 by moving the sample table 10.
The IR camera 12 acquires the optical image of the semiconductor chip 100. The IR camera 12 is provided to be coaxial with the ion beam gun 11. The IR camera 12 and the ion beam gun 11 are used parallelly.
The detector 13 detects secondary electrons generated by the FIB that has irradiated the semiconductor chip 100, thereby acquiring the FIB image. The FIB image acquired by the detector 13 and the optical image acquired by the IR camera 12 are displayed on a monitor (not shown). The FIB image and the optical image can always be observed during the process of the semiconductor chip 100.
The process gas nozzle 14 sends a blast of an appropriate process gas to the semiconductor chip 100. The process gas decomposes by FIB irradiation to etch the semiconductor chip 100 or deposit a conductive material or an insulating material on the semiconductor chip 100. This allows to reconnect the interconnections and the like of the semiconductor chip 100.
Note that the FIB processing apparatus is provided in a vacuum chamber (not shown), and the above-described operation is performed in the vacuum.
The circuit portion formed on the upper surface side of the semiconductor chip (semiconductor substrate) is FIB-processed from the lower surface side using the FIB processing apparatus, thereby performing pad formation or reconnection of interconnections for signal acquisition.
Backside FIB processing to be performed for the semiconductor device according to each embodiment will be described below with reference to
As shown in
In step S2, FIB trench processing is performed in a wide range. More specifically, as shown in
In step S3, an n-well 31 is detected. More specifically, as shown in
In step S4, alignment with CAD data (design data) is performed. More specifically, point specification is done using the n-well 31 detected in step S3, and the n-well 31 observed as the FIB image is aligned with the CAD data. At this time, the alignment with the CAD data is done based on, for example, the corners of the n-well 31. This allows to perform alignment at an accuracy of about 0.5 μm.
Next, a narrower process range is set, and alignment is performed again.
First, in step S5, FIB trench formation is performed in the narrower range. More specifically, as shown in
In step S6, an STI 33 is detected. More specifically, as shown in
In step S7, alignment with CAD data is performed. More specifically, point specification is done using the STI 33 detected in step S6, and the STI 33 observed as the FIB image is aligned with the CAD data. At this time, the alignment with the CAD data is done based on, for example, the corners of the STI 33. Since the pattern of the STI 33 is smaller than that of the n-well 31, the alignment can be done at an accuracy higher than that when using the n-well 31. With the above-described process, the trenches 40 and 50 are formed up to the depth of the STI 33, and the depth to the target interconnection decreases to 1 μm or less so that the correction point can be FIB-processed.
In step S8, FIB processing is performed for the correction point such as an interconnection. More specifically, a connection hole (not shown) is formed at the aligned correction point to expose the correction point. After that, FIB processing is performed for the exposed correction point to do pad formation or reconnection of interconnections for signal acquisition. The backside FIB processing is performed in this way.
A semiconductor device according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to
As shown in
The circuit portion 65 includes a transistor Tr formed on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate 60, and interconnections 64 formed on the transistor Tr. Note that although two layers of interconnections 64 are formed in
The first n-well 61 and the second n-well 62 are formed in the semiconductor substrate 60 on the upper surface side. The first n-well 61 is formed in a region where the element is formed, and the second n-well 62 is formed in another region. That is, the first n-well 61 forms the transistor Tr and the like and functions as the element in the circuit portion 65 while the second n-well 62 does not form the transistor Tr and the like, and does not function as the element in the circuit portion 65. Note that to avoid the floating state of the second n-well 62, it is preferable to form an n+-type diffusion layer in the second n-well 62, connect a contact (not shown) to the diffusion layer, and apply a voltage VDD to the second n-well 62.
At least one of the first n-well 61 and the second n-well 62 is formed in a predetermined region (for example, a 250×250 μm region) in the semiconductor device according to the first embodiment, although details will be described later.
As shown in
In the first embodiment, at least one of the plurality of first n-wells 61 and the plurality of second n-wells 62 exists in an arbitrary 250×250 μm region in the plane. In other words, a second n-well 62 is formed in a 250×250 μm region where none of the plurality of first n-wells 61 that constitute the transistor Tr exists. In addition, a second n-well 62 is formed in a region where the existence density of the plurality of first n-wells 61 is equal to or lower than a predetermined density (for example, one first n-well 61 in a 250×250 μm region) in the plane. Furthermore, if the distance between two adjacent first n-wells 61 is equal to or larger than a predetermined distance (for example, 250 μm), a second n-well 62 is formed in the region between them. That is, when an arbitrary 250 μm square region is selected in the plane, at least one of the plurality of first n-wells 61 and the plurality of second n-wells 62 can be detected.
As shown in
According to the first embodiment, the second n-well 62 that does not constitute the circuit portion 65 and is used for point specification (marking) in backside FIB processing is formed in the semiconductor substrate 60 independently of the first n-well 61 that constitutes the circuit portion 65 (the transistor Tr and the like). This enables to arrange one of the first n-well 61 and the second n-well 62 in the region where the trench 40 is formed in the backside FIB processing. It is therefore possible to easily detect the n-well and easily specify the point in the backside FIB processing.
Additionally, one of the first n-well 61 and the second n-well 62 can be detected by forming the trench 40 once. For this reason, the trench 40 need not be formed twice or more, and the increase in the backside FIB processing time can be suppressed.
Furthermore, a plurality of first n-wells 61 or a plurality of second n-wells 62 can also be formed in the formation region of the trench 40. This makes it possible to increase the number of wells serving as marks, facilitate point specification in the backside FIB processing, and improve the accuracy of alignment with CAD data.
A semiconductor device according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to
As shown in
More specifically, in the semiconductor device according to the second embodiment, second n-wells (dummy wells) 90 whose shapes are different from those of first n-wells 61 are formed. In addition, a predetermined number of second n-wells 90 having different shapes are formed in a 250×250 μm region, as illustrated. That is, a predetermined number of second n-wells 90 having different shapes are densely formed in a relatively narrow range. In this example, a plurality of rectangular (square) second n-wells 90 are formed in a 250×250 μm region so as to gradually increase the width along the first direction and the second direction.
As shown in
Note that the second n-well of the second embodiment need not always have the shapes and patterns shown in
According to the second embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.
Additionally, in the second embodiment, at least one of the characteristic second n-wells 90, 100, and 101 having shapes different from those of the first n-wells 61 is formed in the formation region (for example, a 250×250 μm region) of a trench 40. This makes it possible to use the second n-wells 90, 100, and 101 having characteristic shapes as marks, facilitate point specification in the backside FIB processing, and improve the accuracy of alignment with CAD data.
A semiconductor device according to the third embodiment will be described below with reference to
As shown in
As described above, when correcting a part of a circuit portion 65 from the lower surface side of a semiconductor substrate 60 by FIB processing, a trench is formed immediately under the correction point of the circuit portion 65 in the semiconductor substrate 60 on the lower surface side to detect the n-well and the STI.
In the semiconductor device of the third embodiment, an STI (dummy STI) 110 formed from, for example, a silicon oxide film is formed in the region where a second n-well 62 is formed in the plane on the upper surface side of the semiconductor substrate 60. As shown in
Note that in
According to the third embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.
Additionally, in the third embodiment, the STI having a pattern smaller than that of the second n-well 62 is formed in the region where the second n-well 62 is formed. This makes it possible to use the STI with the smaller pattern as a mark and improve the accuracy of point specification and alignment with CAD data in the backside FIB processing.
A semiconductor device according to the fourth embodiment will be described below with reference to
As shown in
More specifically, in the semiconductor device according to the fourth embodiment, a second n-well 62 is formed in a semiconductor substrate 60 on the upper surface side in a region where no interconnections 64 exist above. In other words, the second n-well 62 is formed in the region between the plurality of interconnections 64 running in the plane. That is, the second n-well 62 and the interconnections 64 are arranged not to overlap, as illustrated. This aims at preventing shorts between the second n-well 62 and the interconnections 64 when correcting the interconnections 64 by backside FIB processing, as will be described later. The second n-well 62 is formed before formation of the interconnections 64. A region where no interconnections 64 are formed later is selected based on design data, and the second n-well 62 is formed in that region.
According to the fourth embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.
The following problem arises when correcting a part of the interconnections 64 by backside FIB processing. As shown in
In the fourth embodiment, however, the second n-well 62 is formed based on the design data in the region where no interconnections 64 exist. For this reason, when correcting a part of the interconnection 64 by the backside FIB processing, neither the connection hole nor the conductive material 140 is formed in the second n-well 62. This allows to avoid the above-described problem and easily perform the backside FIB processing.
Note that the dummy well and the dummy STI which do not function as elements in the first to fourth embodiments can be formed in the same process and method as those of the well and STI functioning as elements.
The structures of two or all of the second to fourth embodiments may be combined with each other.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2011-001286 | Jan 2011 | JP | national |