This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 100111062, filed Mar. 30, 2011. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
The disclosure relates to a test structure for evaluating the thermal performance of through silicon vias (TSVs) and a measurement method thereof.
Three-dimensional (3D) IC integration is a desirable technology for many SiP (System in a Package) design because of the advantages of smaller size, shorter signal routing, and reduced wiring density. Recently, the development of 3D IC integration has been accelerated and its stage has been changed from the research level for limited production to the investigation level with a view to mass production. Because ultra-thin chip and stacked structure, hot spot and the heat accumulated in the middle chip layers severely influence the stacked chips reliability. In fact, thermal problem is one of the most important issues for the 3D IC design and application.
TSV (Through Silicon Via) is a favorable technology for the 3D IC by replacing the conventional edge wiring with vertical connections through the body of the chips/interposers. Except for enhancing signal processing, TSV also can effectively dissipate the accumulated heat in the stacked chip due to shorter heat transport path and higher thermal conductivity of its filled copper. However, seams in the TSV can damage its thermal performance significantly and therefore lose its benefit for thermal management.
In this disclosure, a TSV test structure and the coupled measurement method to determine TSVs' integrity by using thermal technique are described. The TSV test structure and the coupled method can diagnose TSVs' integrity and their thermal performance before the wafer-thinning process. Therefore, the measurement results can avoid unnecessary wastes for cost and time by taking out the disqualified wafer in advance.
The disclosure provides a test structure including a substrate, at least one conductive plug, a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace. The at least one conductive plug is disposed in the substrate, and the first conductive trace is disposed on the conductive plug. The second conductive trace is disposed on the substrate, wherein the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace have the same material and the same shape.
The disclosure further provides a measurement method of a test structure. A test sample is provided, wherein the test sample includes a substrate, at least one conductive plug, a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace. A first temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) curve of the first conductive trace and a second TCR curve of the second conductive trace are established. A first current (I1) is applied to the first conductive trace to measure a first voltage (V1) of the first conductive trace, and a second current (I2) is applied to the second conductive trace to measure a second voltage (V2) of the second conductive trace. Therefore, a first thermal power (P1) and a first electrical resistance (Ω1) of the first conductive trace and a second thermal power (P2) and a second electrical resistance (Ω2) of the second conductive trace are obtained. A first temperature (T1) of the first conductive trace is obtained according to the first electrical resistance (Ω1) using the first TCR curve, and a second temperature (T2) of the second conductive trace is obtained according to the second electrical resistance (Ω2) using the second TCR curve. A backside temperature (Tc) of the substrate can be measured by conventional temperature sensors, such as thermocouple, thermistor or RTD (resistance temperature detector). A first thermal resistance (R1) of the first conductive trace is obtained from the first temperature (T1), the first thermal power (P1) and the backside temperature (Tc). The second thermal resistance (R2) of the second conductive trace is obtained from the second temperature (T2), the second thermal power (P2) and the backside temperature (Tc). Wherein the thermal performance of the conductive plug is obtained from a thermal resistance difference between the first thermal resistance (R1) and the second thermal resistance (R2).
Several exemplary embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below to further describe the invention in details.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The test structure of the disclosure and the measurement method thereof can be applied to through silicon vias (TSVs) of a 3DIC package, vias of a ceramics substrate or etc.
The disclosure provides a test structure and a coupled measurement method thereof, in which the TSVs integrity can be determined as good or no good by using an in-line test, and further, the effective thermal conductivity of the embedded TSVs can be calculated from the measured results.
Referring to
The at least one conductive plug 104 is disposed in the substrate 102 in the first area 102a. A material of the conductive plugs 104 includes metal, such as tungsten or copper. It is noted that each conductive plug 104 does not penetrate through the substrate 102. That is, the test structure 100 of the disclosure can be applied prior to the thinning process of the substrate 102. In an embodiment, when substrate 102 is a silicon substrate, each conductive plug 104 is a through silicon via (TSV), for example.
In the above embodiment, eight conductive plugs 104 are provided for illustration purposes. However, the number of the conductive plugs 104 is not limited by the disclosure. People skilled in the art should appreciate that the number of the conductive plugs 104 can be one or more.
The first conductive trace 106 is disposed on the conductive plugs 104 and on the substrate 102 in the first area 102a. That is, the first conductive trace 106 is disposed on a surface of the substrate 102 in the first area 102a. In this embodiment, the first conductive trace 106 is physically connected to the conductive plugs 104. A material of the first conductive trace 106 includes metal, such as copper, aluminium or an alloy thereof.
The second conductive trace 108 is disposed on a surface of the substrate 102 in the second area 102b. A material of the second conductive trace 108 includes metal, such as copper, aluminium or an alloy thereof. The first conductive trace 106 and the second conductive trace 108 include the same material.
In addition, the first conductive trace 106 and the second conductive trace 108 have the same shape and metal material. In this embodiment, the conductive plugs 104 are arranged in a line, so that the first conductive trace 106 and the second conductive trace 108 are linear, as shown in
In an embodiment, the test structure 100 can further include an insulating layer 101. The insulating layer 101 is disposed between each conductive plug 104 and the substrate 102, between the first conductive trace 106 and the substrate 102 and between the second conductive trace 108 and the substrate 102. A material of the insulating layer 101 includes tetraethosiloxane (TEOS) silicon oxide, silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride.
Besides, the first conductive trace 106 and the second conductive trace 108 each have at least one test pad, and one of the measurement tools in the embodiments of
In view of the foregoing, in the test structure 100 of the disclosure, different components are disposed in the first area 102a and the second area 102b of the substrate 102, the at least one conductive plug 104 and the first conductive trace 106 are disposed in the first area 102a, and only the second conductive trace 108 is disposed in the second area 102b. The first conductive trace 106 and the second conductive trace 108 have the same material, shape and dimension, so that a thermal resistance difference between the first area 102a and the second area 102b is a thermal resistance of the conductive plug 104. Therefore, the thermal performance of the conductive plugs 104 (e.g. TSVs) can be evaluated prior to the thinning process of the substrate 102. The TSV heat dissipation property can be determined as good or no good in a real time, fast, and convenient manner. Accordingly, the competitive advantage can be easily achieved.
Referring to
The first conductive trace 206 is disposed on the conductive plugs 204 and on a surface of the substrate 202 in the first area 202a. It is noted that in this embodiment, the first conductive trace 206 is not physically connected to the conductive plugs 204, and the first conductive trace 206 surrounds the conductive plugs 204. Specifically, the first conductive trace 206 has a plurality of conductive rings 211 and two test pads 207. Each conductive ring 211 surrounds the corresponding conductive plug 204. That is, the central axis of the conductive plug 204 passes through the ring centre of the conductive ring 211, and the shortest distance between the conductive ring 211 and the conductive plug 204 is equal to or less than 10 μm. The test pads 207 are respectively disposed at ends of the first conductive trace 206 and electronically connected to the outmost conductive rings 211. The conductive rings 211 are disposed between the two test pads 207.
The second conductive trace 208 is disposed on a surface of the substrate 202 in the second area 202b. The second conductive trace 208 and the first conductive trace 206 have the same shape. Similarly, the second conductive trace 208 has a plurality of conductive rings 213 and two test pads 209.
In an embodiment, the test structure 200 can further include an insulating layer (not shown). The insulating layer is disposed between each conductive plug 204 and the substrate 202, between the first conductive trace 206 and the substrate 202 and between the second conductive trace 208 and the substrate 202.
Referring to
The first conductive trace 306 is disposed on the conductive plugs 304 and on a surface of the substrate 302 in the first area 302a. It is noted that in this embodiment, the first conductive trace 306 is not physically connected to the conductive plugs 304, the conductive plugs 304 are disposed in the substrate 302 beside the first conductive trace 306, and the shortest distance between the first conductive trace 306 and the corresponding conductive plug 304 is equal to or less than 10 μm. In an embodiment, a plurality of the conductive plugs 304 can be divided to two rows of conductive plugs 304, and the first conductive trace 306 is disposed on a surface of the substrate 302 between the two rows of the conductive plugs 304, as shown in
The second conductive trace 308 is disposed on a surface of the substrate 302 in the second area 302b. The second conductive trace 308 and the first conductive trace 306 are linear. Further, the first conductive trace 306 has two test pads 307 respectively at its ends thereof, and the second conductive trace 308 has two test pads 309 respectively at its ends thereof.
In an embodiment, the test structure 300 can further include an insulating layer (not shown). The insulating layer is disposed between each conductive plug 304 and the substrate 302, between the first conductive trace 306 and the substrate 302 and between the second conductive trace 308 and the substrate 302.
The measurement method of the test structure of the disclosure is described in the following. In the test structure of the disclosure, at least one conductive plug is disposed below the first conductive trace while no conductive plug is disposed below the second conductive trace, so that the electrical properties of the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace are different. Accordingly, a thermal resistance difference between the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace can be deduced from an electrical property difference and simple formulae. This thermal resistance difference is a thermal resistance of the at least one conductive plug disposed below the first conductive trace.
In an embodiment, as shown in
In another embodiment, as shown in
In yet another embodiment, as shown in
In still yet another embodiment, as shown in
Thereafter, a first temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) curve of the first conductive trace and a second TCR curve of the second conductive trace are established. A method of establishing the first TCR curve and the second TCR curve includes the following steps. First, the test sample 400 is placed on the test platen 402. Thereafter, a temperature of the test platen 402 is changed and small currents in mA level are respectively applied to the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace, so as to measure corresponding voltages of the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace with the probe 408 and calculate corresponding resistances of the same. Accordingly, the first TCR curve and the second TCR curve are obtained.
In more details, the method of establishing the first TCR curve and the second TCR curve includes the steps of:
(1) placing the test sample 400 on the test platen 402;
(2) changing a temperature of the test platen temperature 402 to a temperature, wherein the temperature is equal to temperatures of the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace of the test sample;
(3) respectively applying small currents in mA level to the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace at the temperature, so as to measure voltages of the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace with the probe 408 and calculate corresponding resistances of the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace; and
(4) repeating the steps (2) and (3), plotting the resistances of the first conductive trace at the temperatures against the temperatures of the test platen 402 to obtain the first TCR curve of the first conductive trace, and plotting the resistances of the second conductive trace at the temperatures against the temperatures of the test platen 402 to obtain the second TCR curve of the second conductive trace.
Afterwards, a first current (I1) is applied to the first conductive trace to measure a first voltage (V1) of the first conductive trace, and a second current (I2) is applied to the second conductive trace to measure a second voltage (V2) of the second conductive trace. The first current (I1) and the second current (I2) are in the order of tens of mA (>10 mA). The first current (I1) and the second current (I2) can be the same or different from each other.
Next, a first thermal power (P1) and a first electrical resistance (Ω1) of the first conductive trace and a second thermal power (P2) and a second electrical resistance (Ω2) of the second conductive trace are calculated by formula (1) and formula (2),
P=I×V (1)
Ω=V/I (2)
wherein P is a thermal power, Ω is an electrical resistance, I is a current and V is a voltage.
Then, a first temperature (T1) of the first conductive trace is obtained according to the first electrical resistance (Ω1) using the first TCR curve, and a second temperature (T2) of the second conductive trace is obtained according to the second electrical resistance (Ω2) using the second TCR curve.
Thereafter, a backside temperature (Tc) of the substrate is measured with the temperature sensor 406.
Afterwards, a first thermal resistance (R1) of the first conductive trace and a second thermal resistance (R2) of the second conductive trace is calculated by formula (3), wherein a thermal resistance of the conductive plug is obtained from a thermal resistance difference between the first thermal resistance (R1) and the second thermal resistance (R2),
R=(T-Tc)/P (3)
wherein R is a thermal resistance, T is a conductive trace temperature and P is a thermal power.
Next, the calculated difference between the first thermal resistance (R1) and the second thermal resistance (R2) is compared with a gold data to evaluate integrity or thermal performance of the conductive plug. In an embodiment, the golden data is provided by computational simulation. In another embodiment, the golden data is provided by measuring a test structure of a single qualified and completed sample. In yet another embodiment, the golden data is provided by measuring test structures of a statistically meaningful number of samples.
In
In summary, the configuration of conductive plugs and the corresponding positions of the conductive traces are designed in the test structure. Because the TCR performance is an intrinsic physical property of a conductive material, namely, the same materials have the same TCR performance. Therefore, by pre-measuring the TCR performances of the measured conductive traces, a trustable TCR database can be established and used for later temperature measurement rapidly. By using the TCR database, the measurement period can be substantially shorten, and thus the test structure and the coupled method can be developed for in-line inspection. Besides, the method with the test structure can measure the thermal resistance difference between the first trace and the second trace before the test wafer is thinning, the difference value refer to the TSV (conductive plug) integrity. Therefore, just to diagnose the thermal resistance difference if meets the defined expectation value or not, one can easily knows the measured TSVs structures are perfect, or they are with seam/void inside the TSV filled material. Compared with the conventional measurement concepts which detecting the TSVs integrity when the wafers are thinned or even are stacked, the method of this disclosure provides a benefit to avoid unnecessary wastes for cost and time by taking out the disqualified wafer in a very early stage of IC processes.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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100111062 | Mar 2011 | TW | national |