Electrical Characterization Of Plastic Encapsulations Using An Alternative Gate Leakage Test Method

M van Soestbergen, RTH Rongen, J Knol, A Mavinkurve, JH Egbers, S Nath, GQ Zhang, LJ Ernst

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volumeConference contributionScientific

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The supply current of plastic encapsulated microelectronic devices in the presence of a high potential source can increase abnormally due to parasitic gate leakage. According to reliability qualification standards, stress during a parasitic gate leakage test is applied by a corona discharge at a thin tungsten needle placed a few centimeters above the devices under test. The gate leakage sensitivity factor obtained from this test lacks any physical basis and is therefore not believed to be useful. Here we show that this sensitivity factor can be replaced by a physical model for charge transport through the encapsulation material. The model is used to explain why devices encapsulated by a molding compound with a low volume resistivity of 6x10(11) Ohm.cm, at high temperature, 150º C, are more prone to fail the test on an increased current, compared to devices encapsulated by a compound having a high resistivity of 4x10(13) Ohm.cm at the same temperature. Furthermore, we discuss an alternative test setup where the potential difference between two parallel electrodes sandwiching the devices is used as the source of stress. It is suggested in literature that this setup yields identical results as the current setup. However, using both setups on the same product did not result in an equal outcome, which indicates that both tests do not trigger the same failure mechanism to the same extent.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Title of host publication2008 IEEE International Reliability Physics Symposium Proceedings 46th Annual, Phoenix, Arizona, April 27-May 1, 2008
Editors Cole, E.I., Graas, C.D., McPherson, J.W., Street, A.G., Kasprzak, L.A., Mielke, N.R., Suehle, J.S., Lacoe, R.C., Schafft, H.A., Tonti, W.R.
Place of PublicationPhoenix, AZ
PublisherIEEE Society
Pages462-467
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)978-1-4244-2049-0
Publication statusPublished - 2008
Event2008 International Reliability Physics Symposium - Phoenix, AZ
Duration: 27 Apr 20081 May 2008

Publication series

Name
PublisherIEEE

Conference

Conference2008 International Reliability Physics Symposium
Period27/04/081/05/08

Keywords

  • conference contrib. refereed
  • Conf.proc. > 3 pag

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