The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 15, 1991
Filed:
Oct. 29, 1990
Gregory M Gutt, Cupertino, CA (US);
Avid Kamgar, Bernardsville, NJ (US);
Robert V Knoell, Dearborn Heights, MI (US);
Ronald J Schutz, Warren, NJ (US);
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit which includes the step of evaluating the reliability of metal films in the circuit using a noise measurement technique. In one embodiment, a film portion to be tested is incorporated in a Wheatstone bridge. A relatively large direct current is passed through the film to stimulate 1/f.sup.2 noise. A relatively small alternating current is concurrently passed through the film. The bridge imbalance signal at the ac frequency is amplified and demodulated by a phase-locked amplifier, and is then frequency analyzed. The film is evaluated by comparing the resulting noise power spectrum with predetermined standards.