IC failure mechanisms yesterday, today, tomorrow: Implications from test to DFM

Abstract

The failure mechanisms that occur on manufactured ICs affect yield or, worse, shipped product quality level. The difference between the two is in whether or not detection occurs at test. In this talk, we look at the types of failure mechanisms that occur, including random contaminationrelated defects, systematic defects and systematic parametric variations. We go through an evidence round-up looking empirically at defect occurrences in yesterday's and today's chips and discuss trends for the future. Implications of the various failure mechanisms on detectability at test are discussed and both failure mechanism occurrence and detectability are considered as drivers for DFM.