Laser-Induced Latchup Screening and Mitigation in CMOS Devices

This paper describes application of the pulsed laser approach for identifying latch-up sensitive regions in CMOS circuitry. The utility of this approach for preliminary latchup screening of both COTS and space-qualified parts for applications in radiation environments is described. An application of hardening-by-design principles in which a space qualified CMOS product is modified, based on the pulsed laser results, to be latchup immune is presented in detail. The design modifications are described.