Forming a cap above a metal layer
In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus having a metal layer with a pad disposed above a substrate; and a cap disposed above the metal layer having a first portion to provide for contact with a probe and a second portion to provide a bonding surface, and the cap is electrically coupled to the pad.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/300,253, filed on Nov. 20, 2002.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to the manufacture of semiconductor devices and more particularly to the formation of a cap to protect an underlying metal layer.
Manufacture of semiconductor devices typically involves a series of processes in which various layers are deposited and patterned on a substrate to form a device of the desired type. Many semiconductor devices have a number of metal layers formed thereon and interconnected using vias. Typically, the top metal layer may have pads that are used for interconnection and sort probing. In certain devices, a cap is formed above the top metal layer to provide a location to bond wires for electrical connections. Further, the cap may be used to protect the metal layer during sort probing.
However, problems exist with formation of the cap. As a result of misalignment of the cap, a portion of the metal layer is exposed, which is undesirable, as the metal layer is unstable in an ambient environment. Also, the force of a sort probe on the cap can cause probe marks, which can also expose portions of the metal layer and even cause cracking of the metal layer, which can propagate to the lower metal layers, either immediately or during the later bonding. Thus a need exists to protect and to avoid exposure of the underlying metal layer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As shown in
This cap layer 140 thus may electrically contact metal layer 110 and provide protection for metal layer 110. This protection may include environmental protection, so that metal layer 110 does not come in contact with the ambient environment, and physical protection to avoid deformation, cracking or other defect on all or a portion of metal layer 110.
As will become apparent in the discussion of further figures, cap layer 140 may be designed to be substantially larger than exposed portion 115 of metal layer 110. In such manner, cap layer 140 may include one or more contact surfaces or areas that are laterally removed from exposed portion 115. In one embodiment, these one or more contact surfaces may be used for probing and bonding. These contact surfaces may include one or more bonding pads and probing pads (also referred to as “bond pads” and “probe pads”). At least these area(s) of cap layer 140 are not in vertical alignment with exposed portion 115; these area(s) do not directly overlie exposed portion 115.
Also shown in
While it is to be understood that dimensions may vary in different embodiments, the following respective dimensions may be used in one embodiment. Specifically in such an embodiment, the opening in passivation layer 120 may be generally square in shape and have sides between approximately 10 to 100 microns (μm). Further in this embodiment, cap layer 140 may also be generally square and have sides between approximately 25 μm to 50 mils. Such dimensions and shapes in various embodiments may allow for a region of cap layer 140 to be used for probing and bonding that is, while electrically connected to metal layer 110, laterally removed from exposed portion 115.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
As discussed above, these regions are electrically connected via interconnection region 230. Because cap layer 200 is substantially larger than the opening to metal layer 110, it may be formed so that it electrically connects to metal layer 110 via exposed portion 115. In various embodiments, cap layer 200 may be patterned so that exposed portion 115 of metal layer 110 is located below interconnection region 230 or a location of regions 210 or 220 that is laterally removed from the probing and bonding operations.
Other configurations may be present in certain embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, one or more probing pads of a cap layer may be located generally around a middle portion of a semiconductor die, while one or more bonding pads of the cap layer may be located generally around a periphery of the semiconductor die. These probe pads and bond pads may be interconnected as desired by lines of the cap layer. In other embodiments, the bond pads may be located around the middle portion while probe pads may be located around the periphery.
In one embodiment, the opening in the passivation layer(s) may be accomplished by patterning the passivation layer(s) using well known photolithographic processes. For the embodiment of
Thus an opening is provided in the passivation layer(s) to expose the metal pad of the metal layer. In various embodiments, this opening may be in accordance with the dimensions described above. Of course, it is to be understood that a number of such openings may be patterned in the passivation layer(s) to permit contact between pads of a metal layer and pads of a cap layer.
In one embodiment, depositing the cap layer may be accomplished by a technique in which a titanium-aluminum cap is blanket deposited via sputtering. In such an embodiment, first a layer of titanium may be deposited to act as an adhesion layer. In various embodiments, this adhesion layer may have a thickness between approximately 500 Angstroms to 1500 Angstroms. In other embodiments, this adhesion layer may be chromium, nickel vanadium, or molybdenum, for example. Next, the remaining portion of the cap layer, which may be aluminum in one embodiment, may be sputtered above the adhesion layer. In various embodiments, the cap layer may have a thickness of between approximately 0.75 μm to 1.5 μm.
After the cap layer is deposited, it may then be patterned to obtain the desired cap layout. In one embodiment, such patterning may be accomplished using well known photolithographic techniques. For example, a photoresist layer may be applied above the cap layer. In one embodiment, the photoresist layer may be applied by spinning the photoresist onto the substrate and then baking the substrate. Then, a mask may be aligned and the photoresist layer may be exposed and developed, exposing the undesired portions of the cap layer.
Next the undesired portions of the cap layer may be removed. In one embodiment, the removal may be via wet etching. After the undesired portions of the cap layer have been removed, the remaining portions of the photoresist layer protecting the desired portions of cap layer may be removed, leaving the patterned cap layer.
In such manner, a cap layer in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention may be formed. After such formation, probing and bonding may occur on the cap layer.
Referring now to
By providing cap layer 140 in accordance with this embodiment, metal layer 110 may be formed as a plurality of smaller pads or subpads. In such manner, cap layer 140 may be connected to different circuitry (e.g., different voltage sensitive circuits) by selection of the appropriate via (e.g., via 142 or 144).
Similarly in this embodiment, because metal layer 110 is broken into smaller pads, conductors can be provided between the pads to connect different circuitry or pads, as desired. Referring now to
While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of this present invention.
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a metal layer disposed above a substrate, the metal layer having at least one pad; and
- a cap layer disposed above the metal layer, the cap layer having a first portion to provide for contact with a probe and a second portion to provide a bonding surface, the cap layer electrically coupled to the at least one pad.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a passivation layer disposed between the metal layer and the cap layer.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an opening in the passivation layer so that a portion of the cap layer contacts the at least one pad.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are laterally removed from the at least one pad.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cap layer comprises titanium aluminum.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the metal layer comprises a terminal metal layer.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the terminal metal layer comprises a plurality of subpads.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of subpads comprises a first subpad coupled to a first circuit and a second subpad coupled to a second circuit.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cap layer is electrically coupled to the first subpad and the second subpad so that a test probe coupled to the first portion of the cap layer can selectively test the first circuit or the second circuit.
10. An apparatus comprising:
- a metal layer disposed above a substrate, the metal layer having a first area comprising a pad; and
- a cap layer disposed above the metal layer and having a portion in contact with a portion of the metal layer, the cap layer having a second area comprising a contact surface, the second area laterally displaced from the first area.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a passivation layer disposed between the metal layer and the cap layer.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an opening in the passivation layer so that the portion of the cap layer contacts the portion of the metal layer.
13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second area is substantially larger than the first area.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising at least one lead coupled to the contact surface.
15. An apparatus comprising:
- a metal layer disposed above a substrate, the metal layer having at least one pad; and
- a cap disposed above the metal layer, the cap having a probe pad and bond pad, the probe pad and the bond pad laterally displaced from the at least one pad, the cap electrically coupled to the at least one pad.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a passivation layer disposed between the metal layer and the cap.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a passivation layer disposed above the cap.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cap comprises titanium aluminum.
19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the probe pad is located at an interior portion of a semiconductor die and the bond pad is located at a peripheral portion of the semiconductor die.
20. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a lead coupled to the probe pad.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 12, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 17, 2006
Inventors: Krishna Seshan (San Jose, CA), Kevin Jeng (Cupertino, CA), Haiping Dun (Fremont, CA)
Application Number: 11/402,777
International Classification: H01L 23/48 (20060101);