A semiconductor module, including a cooler having first and second flow passages respectively formed on first and second sides of the semiconductor module that are opposite to each other, and a third flow passage connecting the first and second flow passages. The semiconductor module further includes a laminated substrate disposed on the cooler and having first to third circuit boards, a first sensing chip having a sensing function for detecting a temperature and a first non-sensing chip not having the sensing function, disposed on the first circuit board side by side along the third flow passage, and a second sensing chip having the sensing function and a second non-sensing chip not having the sensing function, disposed on the third circuit board side by side along the third flow passage. The first and second sensing chips are respectively disposed on the second side and the first side of the semiconductor module.

Systems, devices, and methods for characterizing semiconductor devices and thin film materials. The device consists of multiple probe tips that are integrated on a single substrate. The layout of the probe tips could be designed to match specific patterns on a CMOS chip or sample. The device provides for detailed studies of transport mechanisms in thin film materials and semiconductor devices.

A semiconductor device with at least one embedded photodetector is disclosed. The at least one photodetector is embedded in a hot carrier injection (HCI) area, and detects a quantity of emitted photons. Further, the photodetector triggers a warning when the photodetector detects a number of photons greater than a threshold number of photons. Additional embodiments are directed to a method of detecting HCI. The method includes embedding a photodetector in a power semiconductor device, setting at least one threshold number of photons, detecting photons, determining a number of photons, determining when the number of photons is above a threshold number of photons, and generating a warning. When the number of photons is above the threshold, the warning is triggered. Further embodiments are directed to an article of manufacture comprising at least one semiconductor device with at least one photodetector embedded in an area predicted to experience HCI.

A method for detecting overlay misalignment of a semiconductor device uses a test structure that includes a sensor structure and a via-chain structure. The sensor structure is disposed in a first layer on a semiconductor substrate and includes a plurality of first conductive lines extending in a first direction. Each first conductive line is separated from an adjacent first conductive line in a second direction by a first space. The via-chain structure is in a second layer above the first layer and between the first layer and the second layer. The via-chain structure includes at least one second conductive line disposed in the second layer and at least one via electrically connected to each second conductive line and extending toward the first layer. The at least one via is disposed in the first space between the adjacent first conductive lines of the sensor structure.

The disclosed technology relates generally to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to semiconductor devices including a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor and are configured for accelerating and monitoring degradation of the gate dielectric of the MOS transistor. In one aspect, a semiconductor device configured with gate dielectric monitoring capability comprises a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor including a source, a drain, a gate, and a backgate region formed in a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device additionally comprises a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) including a collector, a base, and an emitter formed in the semiconductor substrate, wherein the backgate region of the MOS transistor serves as the base of the BJT and is independently accessible for activating the BJT. The MOS transistor and the BJT are configured to be concurrently activated by biasing the backgate region independently from the source of the MOS transistor, such that the base of the BJT injects carriers of a first charge type into the backgate region of the MOS transistor, where the first charge type is opposite charge type to channel current carriers.

A method for detecting defects in a semiconductor device including singulating a die having a substrate including a circuit region and an outer border, a plurality of detecting devices disposed over the substrate and located between the circuit region and the outer border, a first probe pad and a second probe pad electrically connected to two ends of each detecting device, and a seal ring located between the outer border of the die and the detecting devices. The method further includes probing the first probe pad and the second probe pad to determine a connection status of the detecting device, and recognizing a defect when the connection status of the detecting device indicates an open circuit.

An event-recording circuit for recording electrical events experienced by an internal circuit in a semiconductor device is disclosed. The event-recording circuit is coupled to the internal circuit via a spark gap circuit. The spark gap circuit includes one or more encapsulated air-gap structures that are fabricated using a process flow that matches, or is adapted from, a process flow used in fabricating the semiconductor device. The event-recording circuit further includes a recording device that has an electrical property that is changed by a signal passed by the spark gap circuit, such as an ESD or EOS signal. Accordingly, a test may be performed to determine the presence, and in some cases the extent, of the change to the electrical property in a failure analysis of the semiconductor device.

A semiconductor device and a method for detecting cracks are provided. The semiconductor device includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer positioned above the first conductive layer, an isolation layer positioned between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, and a transistor electrically coupled to the first conductive layer. The first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, the insulating layer, and the transistor together form a crack detecting structure.

A display device including a display panel having panel pad units including a first panel pad unit having first pads arranged in a first column and a second panel pad unit having second pads arranged in a second column; a first member coupled to at least one of the first and second panel pad units; and a second member coupled to the first member and including a plurality of test pads, and wherein the first member includes lines electrically connecting a respective one of the plurality of test pads with a respective one of the first and second pads.

A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip stacked on the first semiconductor chip and electrically connected to the first semiconductor chip by a first through electrode and a second through electrode. The first semiconductor chip may electrically connect the first through electrode to a third test resistor during a second test operation. The first semiconductor chip may detect a voltage level of the first internal node, which is determined by resistance values of the third test resistor and the first and second through electrodes, to test a short failure between the first and second through electrodes during the second test operation.