Yield Enhancement by Virtual Fabrication: Using Failure Bin Classification, Yield Prediction and Process Window Optimization to Identify and Prevent Process Failures

This paper provides an example of yield enhancement using virtual fabrication. A 6 transistors based static random access memory example on 7nm node technology was used in this case study. Yield loss caused by via contact-metal edge placement error was modeled and analyzed. The results show that yield can be enhanced from 48.4% to 99.0% through process window optimization and improved specification control. We identified high resistance failure as the top failure mode in both non-optimized and optimized process models.