Abstract: A bonding pad structure is fabricated on an integrated circuit (IC) substrate having at least a contact layer on its top surface. A passivation layer covers the top surface of the IC substrate and the contact layer. The passivation layer has an opening exposing a portion of the contact layer. An electrically conductive adhesion/barrier layer directly is bonded to the contact layer. The electrically conductive adhesion/barrier layer extends to a top surface of the passivation layer. A bonding metal layer is stacked on the electrically conductive adhesion/barrier layer.

Abstract: A circuitry component comprising a semiconductor substrate, a pad over said semiconductor substrate, a tantalum-containing layer on a side wall and a bottom surface of said pad, a passivation layer over said semiconductor substrate, an opening in said passivation layer exposing said pad, a titanium-containing layer over said pad exposed by said opening, and a gold layer over said titanium-containing layer.

Abstract: A post passivation rerouting support structure comprises a relatively thin support layer above the passivation layer to support the RDL, and a relatively thick support layer for fine pitch interconnects extending from the RDL and terminating as contact structures at the surface of the thick support layer, for a next level packaging structure. The thick support layer is planarized before defining the contact structures. The thick support layer may be formed after the conducting posts have been formed, or the thick support layer is formed before forming the conducting posts in vias formed in the thick support layer. An encapsulating layer may be provided above the thick support layer, which top surface is planarized before defining the contact structures. The encapsulating layer and the further support layer may be the same layer.

Abstract: A circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate, first and second metallic posts over the semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer over the semiconductor substrate and covering the first and second metallic posts, first and second bumps over the first and second metallic posts or over the insulating layer. The first and second metallic posts have a height of between 20 and 300 microns, with the ratio of the maximum horizontal dimension thereof to the height thereof being less than 4. The distance between the center of the first bump and the center of the second bump is between 10 and 250 microns.

Abstract: A new interconnection scheme is described, comprising both coarse and fine line interconnection schemes in an IC chip. The coarse metal interconnection, typically formed by selective electroplating technology, is located on top of the fine line interconnection scheme. It is especially useful for long distance lines, clock, power and ground buses, and other applications such as high Q inductors and bypass lines. The fine line interconnections are suited for local interconnections. The combined structure of coarse and fine line interconnections forms a new interconnection scheme that not only enhances IC speed, but also lowers power consumption.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a circuitry component includes providing a semiconductor substrate, a first coil over said semiconductor substrate, a passivation layer over said first coil; and depositing a second coil over said passivation layer and over said first coil. Said second coil may be deposited by forming a first metal layer over said passivation layer, forming a pattern defining layer over said first metal layer, a first opening in said pattern defining layer exposing said first metal layer, forming a second metal layer over said first metal layer exposed by said first opening, removing said pattern defining layer, and removing said first metal layer not under said second metal layer.

Abstract: A method of metal sputtering, comprising the following steps. A wafer holder and inner walls of a chamber are coated with a seasoning layer comprised of: a) a material etchable in a metal barrier layer etch process; or b) an insulating or non-conductive material. A wafer having two or more wafer conductive structures is placed upon the seasoning layer coated wafer holder. The wafer is cleaned wherein a portion of the seasoning layer is re-deposited upon the wafer over and between adjacent wafer conductive structures. A metal barrier layer is formed over the wafer. The wafer is removed from the chamber and at least two adjacent upper metal structures are formed over at least one portion of the metal barrier layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor chip comprising a semiconductor substrate comprising a MOS device, an interconnecting structure over said semiconductor substrate, and a metal bump over said MOS device, wherein said metal bump has more than 50 percent by weight of gold and has a height of between 8 and 50 microns.

Abstract: A new method is provided for the creation of interconnect lines. Fine line interconnects are provided in a first layer of dielectric overlying semiconductor circuits that have been created in or on the surface of a substrate. A layer of passivation is deposited over the layer of dielectric and a thick second layer of dielectric is created over the surface of the layer of passivation. Thick and wide post-passivation interconnect lines are created in the thick second layer of dielectric. The first layer of dielectric may also be eliminated, creating the wide thick passivation interconnect network on the surface of the layer of passivation that has been deposited over the surface of a substrate.

Abstract: The present invention adds one or more thick layers of polymer dielectric and one or more layers of thick, wide metal lines on top of a finished semiconductor wafer, post-passivation. The thick, wide metal lines may be used for long signal paths and can also be used for power buses or power planes, clock distribution networks, critical signal, and re-distribution of I/O pads.

Abstract: The present invention adds one or more thick layers of polymer dielectric and one or more layers of thick, wide metal lines on top of a finished semiconductor wafer, post-passivation. The thick, wide metal lines may be used for long signal paths and can also be used for power buses or power planes, clock distribution networks, critical signal, and re-distribution of I/O pads.

Abstract: A system and method for forming post passivation metal structures is described. Metal interconnections and high quality electrical components, such as inductors, transformers, capacitors, or resistors are formed on a layer of passivation, or on a thick layer of polymer over a passivation layer.

Abstract: A system and method for forming post passivation metal structures is described. Metal interconnections and high quality electrical components, such as inductors, transformers, capacitors, or resistors are formed on a layer of passivation, or on a thick layer of polymer over a passivation layer.

Abstract: A system and method for forming post passivation metal structures is described. Metal interconnections and high quality electrical components, such as inductors, transformers, capacitors, or resistors are formed on a layer of passivation, or on a thick layer of polymer over a passivation layer.

Abstract: A new interconnection scheme is described, comprising both coarse and fine line interconnection schemes in an IC chip. The coarse metal interconnection, typically formed by selective electroplating technology, is located on top of the fine line interconnection scheme. It is especially useful for long distance lines, clock, power and ground buses, and other applications such as high Q inductors and bypass lines. The fine line interconnections are more appropriate to be used for local interconnections. The combined structure of coarse and fine line interconnections forms a new interconnection scheme that not only enhances IC speed, but also lowers power consumption.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip or wafer includes a passivation layer, a pad and a bump. The pad is exposed by an opening in the passivation layer. The bump is connected to the pad, wherein the area of the connection between the pad and the bump is larger than 30,000 ?m2.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a metallization structure comprises depositing a first metal layer; depositing a first pattern-defining layer over said first metal layer, a first opening in said first pattern-defining layer exposes said first metal layer; depositing a second metal layer over said first metal layer exposed by said first opening; depositing a second pattern-defining layer over said second metal layer, a second opening in said second pattern-defining layer exposes said second metal layer; depositing a third metal layer over said second metal layer exposed by said second opening; removing said second pattern-defining layer; removing said first pattern-defining layer; and removing said first metal layer not under said second metal layer.

Abstract: A method for improving the accuracy of electrical test results of semiconductor wafers is described. The method introduces a non-contacting physical cleaning process prior to testing. The cleaning process removes micro-contamination on circuit contact pads that has been introduced during semiconductor wafer processing. This results in more accurate electrical probing of the semiconductor wafers.

Abstract: A chip structure comprising a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of dielectric layers, a plurality of circuit layers, a passivation layer, a metal layer and at least a bump. The semiconductor substrate has a plurality of electronic devices positioned on a surface layer of the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layers are sequentially stacked on the semiconductor substrate and have a plurality of via holes. The circuit layers are disposed on one of the dielectric layers, wherein the circuit layers are electrically connected with each other through the via holes and are electrically connected to the electronic devices. The passivation layer is disposed over the circuit layers and the dielectric layers, wherein the passivation layer comprises an opening that exposes one of the metal layers. The metal layer is disposed over the passivation layer, wherein the metal layer comprises at least a bump pad and at least a testing pad, the bump pad electrically connecting with the testing pad.

Abstract: A method of metal sputtering, comprising the following steps. A wafer holder and inner walls of a chamber are coated with a seasoning layer comprised of: a) a material etchable in a metal barrier layer etch process; or b) an insulating or non-conductive material. A wafer having two or more wafer conductive structures is placed upon the seasoning layer coated wafer holder. The wafer is cleaned wherein a portion of the seasoning layer is re-deposited upon the wafer over and between adjacent wafer conductive structures. A metal barrier layer is formed over the wafer. The wafer is removed from the chamber and at least two adjacent upper metal structures are formed over at least one portion of the metal barrier layer.