| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090081862 | AIR GAP STRUCTURE DESIGN FOR ADVANCED INTEGRATED CIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY - A method for forming air gaps between interconnect structures in semiconductor devices provides a sacrificial layer formed over a dielectric and within openings formed therein. The sacrificial layer is a blanket layer that is converted to a material that is consumable in an etchant composition that the dielectric material and a subsequently formed interconnect material are resistant to. After the interconnect material is deposited a planarized surface including portions of the dielectric material, vertical sections of the converted material and portions of the interconnect material is produced. The etchant composition then removes the converted material thereby forming voids. A capping layer is formed over the structure resulting in air gaps. A sidewall protection layer may be optionally formed between the interconnect structure and the sacrificial material. In some embodiments an ARC layer may be formed over the dielectric and form part of the planar surface. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090140393 | WAFER SCRIBE LINE STRUCTURE FOR IMPROVING IC RELIABILITY - A semiconductor wafer having a multi-layer wiring structure is disclosed. The wafer comprises a plurality of chip die areas arranged on the wafer in an array and scribe line areas between the chip die areas. The scribe lines of a semiconductor wafer having USG top-level wiring layers above ELK wiring layers have at least one metal film structures substantially covering corner regions where two scribe lines intersect to inhibit delamination at the USG/ELK interface during wafer dicing operation. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090194889 | BOND PAD STRUCTURE - A bonding pad structure is provided that includes two conductive layers and a connective layer interposing the two conductive layers. The connective layer includes a contiguous, conductive structure. In an embodiment, the contiguous conductive structure is a solid layer of conductive material. In other embodiments, the contiguous conductive structure is a conductive network including, for example, a matrix configuration or a plurality of conductive stripes. At least one dielectric spacer may interpose the conductive network. In an embodiment, the conductive density of the connective layer is between approximately 20% and 100%. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090298256 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTERCONNECT AIR GAP FORMATION PROCESS - A semiconductor package including an interconnect air gap and method for making the same. The semiconductor package includes a dielectric layer, a metallic interconnect, an air gap disposed between the dielectric layer and interconnect, and a spacer interspersed between the metallic interconnect and air gap. The metallic interconnect is laterally supported by and isolated from the air gap by the spacer. A method for making the same is also provided. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100025824 | Structure for Reducing Integrated Circuit Corner Peeling - A crack prevention structure that reduces integrated circuit corner peeling and reduces cracking is disclosed. The crack prevention structure comprises a semiconductor substrate; a first plurality of dielectric layers of a first material disposed over the semiconductor substrate; a second plurality of dielectric layers of a second material different than the first material, disposed on the first plurality of dielectric layers, wherein the first plurality of dielectric layers and the second plurality of dielectric layers meet at an interface; and a plurality of metal structures and a plurality of via structures formed through the interface of the first plurality of dielectric layers and the second plurality of dielectric layers. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100052065 | NEW METHOD FOR MECHANICAL STRESS ENHANCEMENT IN SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES - The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate having an active region; at least one operational device on the active region, wherein the operational device include a strained channel; and at least one first dummy gate disposed at a side of the operational device and on the active region. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100117080 | SEMICONDUCTOR TEST PAD STRUCTURES - A semiconductor test pad interconnect structure with integrated die-separation protective barriers. The interconnect structure includes a plurality of stacked metal layers each having an electrically conductive test pad separated from other test pads by a dielectric material layer. In one embodiment, at least one metallic via bar is embedded into the interconnect structure and electrically interconnects each of the test pads in the metal layers together. The via bar extends substantially along an entire first side defined by each test pad in some embodiments. In other embodiments, a pair of opposing via bars may be provided that are arranged on opposite sides of a die singulation saw cut line defined in a scribe band on a semiconductor wafer. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100197114 | Methods of die sawing - A structure includes a substrate having a plurality of scribe line areas surrounding a plurality of die areas. Each of the die areas includes at least one first conductive structure formed over the substrate. Each of the scribe line areas includes at least one active region and at least one non-active region. The active region includes a second conductive structure formed therein. The structure further includes at least one first passivation layer formed over the first conductive structure and second conductive structure, wherein at least a portion of the first passivation layer within the non-active region is removed, whereby die-sawing damage is reduced. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100252916 | STRUCTURE FOR IMPROVING DIE SAW QUALITY - A semiconductor device is provided that includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of dies formed on the semiconductor substrate, the plurality of dies being separated from one another by a first region extending along a first direction and a second region extending along a second direction different from the first direction, a dummy metal structure formed within a third region that includes a region defined by an intersection of the first region and the second region, a plurality of metal interconnection layers formed over the substrate, and a plurality of dielectric layers formed over the substrate. Each of the metal interconnection layers is disposed within each of the dielectric layers and a dielectric constant of at least one of the dielectric layers is less than about 2.6. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20110018128 | PACKAGE STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR REDUCING DIELECTRIC LAYER DELAMINATION - A semiconductor package structure is provided. The structure includes a semiconductor chip having a plurality of interconnect layers formed thereover. A first passivation layer is formed over the plurality of interconnect layers. A stress buffer layer is formed over the first passivation layer. A bonding pad is formed over the stress buffer layer. A second passivation layer is formed over a portion of the bonding pad, the second passivation having at least one opening therein exposing a portion of the bonding pad. | 01-27-2011 |