International Business Machines Corporation

James V Crain, Jr

David Brian Stone

Robert F White

Charles W Griffin

Jason E Blanchet

Christopher David Muzzy

Thomas M Shaw

Mark C H Lamorey

Patrick H Buffet

Douglas Wayne Kemerer

Timothy W Budell

Thomas R Bednar

Alain Caron

Donald S Kent

Esmaeil Rahmati

A method of testing an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a related test structure are disclosed. A test structure includes a monitor chain proximate to at least one solder bump pad, the monitor chain including at least one metal via stack, each metal via stack extending from a lower metal layer in the IC chip to an upper metal layer in the IC chip, such that the monitor chain forms a continuous circuit proximate to the at least one solder bump pad, and where each metal via stack is positioned substantially under the solder bump. A method for testing to detect boundaries of safe effective modulus includes performing a stress test on an IC chip containing the test structure joined to a semiconductor package.

Semiconductor test and monitoring structure to detect boundaries of safe effective modulus

A test chip module for testing the integrity of the flp chip solder ball interconnections between chip and substrate. The interconnections, are thermally stressed through an array of individual heaters formed in a layer of chip metallurgy to provide a uniform and ubiquitous source of heat. Current is passed through the interconnection to be tested by a current supply circuit using one signal I/O interconnection and the voltage drop across the interconnection to be tested from the current passed therethrough is measured by a voltage measuring circuit connected through another signal I/O interconnection. Stress initiating cracking and degradation at the interconnection creates a measurable change in voltage drop across the interconnection.

Packaging reliability superchips

A test chip module for testing the integrity of the flip chip solder ball interconnections between chip and substrate. The interconnections are thermally stressed through an array of individual heaters formed in a layer of chip metallurgy to provide a uniform and ubiquitous source of heat. Current is passed through the interconnection to be tested by a current supply circuit using one signal I/O interconnection and the voltage drop across the interconnection to be tested from the current passed therethrough is measured by a voltage measuring circuit connected through another signal I/O interconnection. Stress initiating cracking and degradation at the interconnection creates a measurable change in voltage drop across the interconnection.

Packaging reliability super chips

An integrated circuit chip having a contact layer that includes a plurality of Vdd, Vddx, ground and I/O contacts arranged in a generally radial pattern having diagonal and major axis symmetry and generally defining four quadrants. A multilayer X-Y power grid is located beneath the contact layer. A wiring layer is interposed between the contact layer and power grid to provide a well-behaved electrical transition between the generally radial Vdd, Vddx and ground contacts and the rectangular X-Y power grid. The interposed wiring layer includes concentric square rings of Vdd, Vddx and ground wires located alternatingly with one another. The Vddx wires are discontinuous between adjacent quadrants so that the magnitude of Vddx may be different in each quadrant of the chip if desired.

Integrated circuit chip having a ringed wiring layer interposed between a contact layer and a wiring grid

Growing community of inventors

Milton, VT, United States of America

James V Crain, Jr