An IC includes first and second designs of experiments (DOEs), each comprised of at least two fill cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (NCEM). The first DOE contains fill cells configured to enable non-contact (NC) detection of tip-to-side shorts, and the second DOE contains fill cells configured to enable NC detection of chamfer shorts.

A semiconductor device, and a method of manufacturing the same, includes first and second gate structures extending in a first direction and spaced apart from each other in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a dummy gate structure provided between the first and second gate structures, a first source/drain region between the first gate structure and the dummy gate structure, a second source/drain region between the second gate structure and the dummy gate structure, a connection contact provided on the dummy gate structure, and a common conductive line provided on the connection contact. The dummy gate structure extends in the first direction. The connection contact extends in the second direction to connect the first source/drain region to the second source/drain region. The common conductive line configured to a voltage to the first and second source/drain regions through the connection contact.

Wafers, chips, or dies that contain fill cells with structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (NCEM). Such NCEM-enabled fill cells may target/expose a variety of open-circuit, short-circuit, leakage, or excessive resistance failure modes. Such wafers, chips, or dies may include Designs of Experiments (DOEs), comprised of multiple NCEM-enabled fill cells, in at least two variants, all targeted to the same failure mode(s).

An IC includes first and second designs of experiments (DOES), each comprised of at least two fill cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (NCEM). The first DOE contains fill cells configured to enable non-contact (NC) detection of chamfer shorts, and the second DOE contains fill cells configured to enable NC detection of corner shorts.

An IC includes logic cells, selected from a standard cell library, and fill cells, configured for compatibility with the standard logic cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (NCEM). The IC includes such NCEM-enabled fill cells configured to enable detection and/or measurement of a variety of open-circuit and short-circuit failure modes, including at least one via-open-related failure mode, one AACNT-short-related failure mode, one GATE-short-related failure mode, and one metal-short-related failure mode.

A process for making and using a semiconductor wafer includes instantiating first and second designs of experiments (DOES), each comprised of at least two fill cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (NCEM). The first DOE contains fill cells configured to enable non-contact (NC) detection of snake opens, and the second DOE contains fill cells configured to enable NC detection of metal island opens. The process may further include obtaining NC measurements from the first and/or second DOE(s) and using such measurements, at least in part, to selectively perform additional processing, metrology or inspection steps on the wafer, and/or on other wafer(s) currently being manufactured.

An IC includes logic cells, selected from a standard cell library, and fill cells, configured for compatibility with the standard logic cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (NCEM). The IC includes such NCEM-enabled fill cells configured to enable detection and/or measurement of a variety of short-circuit failure modes, including at least one chamfer-short-related failure mode, one AACNT-short-related failure mode, one GATECNT-short-related failure mode, and one TS-short-related failure mode.

An IC includes first and second designs of experiments (DOEs), each comprised of at least two fill cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (NCEM). The first DOE contains fill cells configured to enable non-contact (NC) detection of snake opens, and the second DOE contains fill cells configured to enable NC detection of metal island opens.

An IC includes logic cells, selected from a standard cell library, and fill cells, configured for compatibility with the standard logic cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (NCEM). The IC includes such NCEM-enabled fill cells configured to enable detection and/or measurement of a variety of open-circuit and short-circuit failure modes, including at least one via-open-related failure mode, one TS-short-related failure mode, one metal-short-related failure mode, and one AA-short-related failure mode.

An IC includes logic cells, selected from a standard cell library, and fill cells, configured for compatibility with the standard logic cells. The fill cells contain structures configured to obtain in-line data via non-contact electrical measurements (NCEM). The IC includes such NCEM-enabled fill cells configured to enable detection and/or measurement of a variety of short-circuit failure modes, including at least one chamfer-short-related failure mode, one AACNT-short-related failure mode, one GATE-short-related failure mode, and one GATECNT-short-related failure mode.