Apparatus and method for dynamic diagnostic testing of integrated circuits

Abstract

Systems and methods consistent with principles of the present invention alow contactless measuring of various kinds of electrical activity within an integrated circuit. The invention can be used for high-bandwidth, at speed testing of various devices on a wafer during the various stages of device processing, or on packaged parts at the end of the manufacturing cycle. Power is applied to the test circuit using conventional mechanical probes or other means, such as CW laser light applied to a photoreceiver provided on the test circuit. The electrical test signal is introduced into the test circuit by stimulating the circuit using a contactless method, such as by directing the output of one or more modelocked lasers onto high-speed receivers on the circuit, or by using a high-speed pulsed diode laser. The electrical activity within the circuit in response to the test signal is sensed by a receiver element, such as a time-resolved photon counting detector, a static emission camera system, or by an active laser probing system. The collected information is used for a variety of purposes, including manufacturing process monitoring, new process qualification, and model verification.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.