Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Yu-Feng Tai

Bor-Cheng Chen

Huan-Yong Chang

Determining the maximum number of dies that fit on a semiconductor wafer is disclosed. The x- and y-coordinates of an initial starting position on a semiconductor wafer are determined. The delta-x and delta-y offsets for subsequent starting positions are also determined. Starting at a current position equal to the initial starting position, the following is repeated for each of a predetermined number of times. First, the semiconductor wafer is covered with fields. Second, the number of dies that are completely covered by the semiconductor wafer is counted. Third, the current starting position is increased by the delta-x and the delta-y offsets. Once this has been repeated, the actual starting position is set as the current starting position at which the number of dies completely covered by the semiconductor wafer is maximized.

Determining the maximum number of dies fitting on a semiconductor wafer

A method of early and effective detection of plasma damage to a gate oxide layer by a special design of the active region is achieved. A plasma-damage testing structure is fabricated by providing a gate electrode overlying an active area of a semiconductor substrate wherein a gate oxide layer underlies the gate electrode. A portion of the active area underlying the gate electrode has sharp corners. The plasma-damage testing structure is exposed to a plasma environment. Electrical tests are performed to detect plasma damage to the plasma-damage testing structure. This model provides an accurate evaluation of plasma damage to actual MOSFET's.

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Hsin-Chu, Taiwan

Yu-Feng Tai