SRAM Physical Failure Analysis Challenges in Technology Nodes Beyond 14 nm

Abstract

Three case studies involving 14 nm SRAM technology show how progressive FIB cross-sectioning and top-down analysis can be supplemented with nanoprobing and TEM tomography to determine the root cause of failure. In the first case, the memory failure is traced to an abnormal gate profile. In the second case, the failure is attributed to a metal line short, and in the third case, a gate defect.