Abstract: Middle-of-line (MOL) interconnects that facilitate reduced capacitance and/or resistance and corresponding techniques for forming the MOL interconnects are disclosed herein. An exemplary MOL interconnect structure includes a device-level contact disposed in a first insulator layer and a ruthenium structure disposed in a second insulator layer disposed over the first insulator layer. The device-level contact physically contacts an integrated circuit feature, and the ruthenium structure physically contacts the device-level contact. An air gap separates sidewalls of the ruthenium structure from the second insulator layer. A top surface of the ruthenium structure is lower than a top surface of the second insulator layer. A via disposed in a third insulator layer extends below the top surface of the second insulator layer to physically contact the ruthenium structure. A remainder of a dummy contact spacer layer may separate the first insulator layer and the second insulator layer.

Abstract: Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer, the mask including a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask and a portion of the semiconductor wafer are patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask and to form trenches partially into but not through the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. Each of the trenches has a width. The semiconductor wafer is plasma etched through the trenches to form corresponding trench extensions and to singulate the integrated circuits. Each of the corresponding trench extensions has the width.

Abstract: A method includes forming image sensors in a semiconductor substrate. A first alignment mark is formed close to a front side of the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes performing a backside polishing process to thin the semiconductor substrate, forming a second alignment mark on the backside of the semiconductor substrate, and forming a feature on the backside of the semiconductor substrate. The feature is formed using the second alignment mark for alignment.

Abstract: Methods of preparing a mineral-coated rock micromodel can include 3D-printing a transparent porous micromodel with photo-curable polymer, seeding a thin layer of mineral nanoparticles in the network of pores inside the micromodel, and subsequently growing a mineral layer on the thin layer of mineral nanoparticles. The thin layer of mineral nanoparticles can be introduced by injecting a suspension containing the mineral nanoparticles through the microporous polymer micromodel, and the mineral layer can be grown in-situ on the thin layer of mineral nanoparticles in the network of pores by injecting an ion-rich solution configured to crystallize from solution in response to contacting the mineral nanoparticles.

Abstract: A wafer processing method includes an adhesive film bonding step of bonding an adhesive film on a side of a back surface of the wafer, an adhesive film cutting-off step of cutting off at least the adhesive film that is bonded on the side of the back surface of the wafer along streets from the side of the back surface of the wafer, a modified layer forming step of irradiating a laser beam of a wavelength that has transmissivity through the wafer with the laser beam focused inside the wafer, so that modified layers are formed along the streets, respectively, and a dividing step of, after performing the adhesive film cutting-off step and the modified layer forming step, applying an external force to the wafer so that the wafer is divided from the modified layers as starting points.

Abstract: A method of forming a package structure includes an etching step, a laser step, a plating step and a singulation step. In the etching step, a plurality of cutting streets of a leadframe are etched. In the laser step, a plastic package material covering on each of the cutting streets is removed via a laser beam. In the plating step, a plurality of plating surfaces are disposed on a plurality of areas of the leadframe without the plastic package material. In the singulation step, the cutting streets of the leadframe are cut to form the package structure.

Abstract: Middle-of-line (MOL) interconnects that facilitate reduced capacitance and/or resistance and corresponding techniques for forming the MOL interconnects are disclosed herein. An exemplary MOL interconnect structure includes a device-level contact disposed in a first insulator layer and a ruthenium structure disposed in a second insulator layer disposed over the first insulator layer. The device-level contact physically contacts an integrated circuit feature, and the ruthenium structure physically contacts the device-level contact. An air gap separates sidewalls of the ruthenium structure from the second insulator layer. A top surface of the ruthenium structure is lower than a top surface of the second insulator layer. A via disposed in a third insulator layer extends below the top surface of the second insulator layer to physically contact the ruthenium structure. A remainder of a dummy contact spacer layer may separate the first insulator layer and the second insulator layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for plasma dicing a substrate. The substrate is provided with a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the substrate having a plurality of street areas and at least one device structure. The substrate is placed onto a support film on a frame to form a work piece. A process chamber having a plasma source is provided. A work piece support is provided within the plasma process chamber. The work piece is placed onto the work piece support. A plasma is generated from the plasma source in the plasma process chamber. The work piece is processed using the generated plasma and a byproduct generated from the support film while the support film is exposed to the generated plasma.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a micro light emitting diode device is provided. A plurality of first type epitaxial structures are formed on a first substrate and the first type epitaxial structures are separated from each other. A first connection layer and a first adhesive layer are configured between the first type epitaxial structures and the first substrate. The first connection layer is connected to the first type epitaxial structures. The first adhesive layer is located between the first connection layer and the first type epitaxial substrate. The Young's modulus of the first connection layer is larger than the Young's modulus of the first adhesive layer. The first connection layer located between any two adjacent first type epitaxial structures is removed so as to form a plurality of first connection portions separated from each other. Each of the first connection portions is connected to the corresponding first type epitaxial structure.

Abstract: A processing method of a wafer in which a modified layer is formed inside the wafer. In the processing method, irradiation with a first laser beam is executed from a back surface side of the wafer and the modified layer is formed inside the wafer. Then, irradiation with a second laser beam is executed with the focal point thereof positioned to the inside or the front surface of the wafer and reflected light is imaged by an imaging unit. Furthermore, a processing state of the wafer is determined on the basis of a taken image. The second laser beam is shaped in such a manner that a sectional shape thereof in a surface perpendicular to a traveling direction thereof becomes asymmetric across the modified layer.

Abstract: A processing method of a wafer includes a modified layer forming step of positioning the focal point of a laser beam with a wavelength having transmissibility with respect to the wafer to the inside of a planned dividing line and executing irradiation along the planned dividing line to form modified layers inside and a water-soluble resin coating step of coating the front surface of the wafer with a water-soluble resin before or after the modified layer forming step. The processing method also includes a dividing step of expanding a dicing tape to divide the wafer into individual device chips together with the water-soluble resin with which the front surface of the wafer is coated and a modified layer removal step of executing plasma etching and removing the modified layers that remain at the side surfaces of the device chips in a state in which the dicing tape is expanded and the front surfaces of the individual device chips are coated with the water-soluble resin.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor die, an electrical contact arranged on a surface of the semiconductor die, and a metal layer arranged on the electrical contact, wherein the metal layer includes a singulated part of at least one of a metal foil, a metal sheet, a metal leadframe, or a metal plate. When viewed in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the semiconductor die, a footprint of the electrical contact and a footprint of the metal layer are substantially congruent.

Abstract: Implementations of die singulation systems and related methods may include forming a plurality of die on a first side of a substrate, forming a backside metal layer on a second side of a substrate, applying a photoresist layer over the backside metal layer, patterning the photoresist layer along a die street of the substrate, and forming a groove at the pattern of the photoresist layer only partially through a thickness of the backside metal layer. The groove may be located in the die street of the substrate. The method may also include etching through a remaining portion of the backside metal layer located in the die street, removing the photoresist layer, and singulating the plurality of die included in the substrate by removing substrate material in the die street.

Abstract: In a described example, a method includes: applying a dicing tape over a metal layer covering a portion of a surface of scribe streets on a device side of a semiconductor wafer that includes semiconductor device dies formed thereon separated from one another by the scribe streets; and placing the semiconductor wafer with the device side facing away from a laser in a stealth dicing machine. A power of a laser beam is adjusted to a first power level. The laser beam is focused through the non-device side of the semiconductor wafer to a first focal depth in the metal layer. The laser beam scans across the scribe streets and ablates the metal layer in the scribe streets. The method continues by singulating the semiconductor device dies using stealth dicing along the scribe streets in the stealth dicing machine.

Abstract: There is provided a processing method of a wafer having a functional layer on a front surface side. The processing method includes a laser processing step of forming laser processed grooves along streets while removing the functional layer along the streets by executing irradiation with a laser beam and a cut groove forming step of forming cut grooves inside the laser processed grooves along the streets by cutting the wafer by a cutting blade. The processing method also includes a grinding step of causing the cut grooves to be exposed on a back surface side of the wafer and dividing the wafer into plural device chips by grinding the back surface side of the wafer and thinning the wafer and a processing distortion removal step of supplying a gas in a plasma state to the back surface side of the wafer and removing processing distortion.

Abstract: There is provided a wafer processing method including a protective member disposing step of disposing a protective member on a top surface of a wafer; a modified layer forming step of forming an annular modified layer by irradiating the wafer with a laser beam so as to position, within a peripheral surplus region, a condensing point of the laser beam having a wavelength transmissible through the wafer; a separating step of separating a part or a whole of the peripheral surplus region from the wafer by dividing the wafer with the annular modified layer as a starting point; and a grinding step of thinning the wafer by grinding an undersurface of the wafer. In the modified layer forming step, the modified layer is formed in a shape of a circular truncated cone whose diameter is decreased from the top surface to the undersurface of the wafer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electronic device is provided. The method includes the following steps: providing a first mother substrate including a plurality of first substrate areas; performing a first half-cutting step on the first mother substrate to produce a first crack to define the plurality of first substrate areas; disposing a first optical film on the first mother substrate having the first crack, wherein the first optical film has a first cutting region corresponding to the first crack; performing a first cutting step in the first cutting region of the first optical film; and separating the plurality of first substrate areas to form a plurality of first substrates.

Abstract: Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits involves forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer, the mask including a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask is patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps, exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. Subsequent to patterning the mask, a breakthrough treatment is performed, the breakthrough treatment comprising a first physical bombardment operation, a second iterative isotropic and directional plasma etch operation, and a third directional breakthrough operation. Subsequent to performing the breakthrough treatment, the semiconductor wafer is plasma etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits.

Abstract: A molded semiconductor package includes: a semiconductor die attached to a substrate, the semiconductor die having a bond pad at a first side of the semiconductor die which faces away from the substrate and an insulating layer covering the first side; an electrical conductor attached to a part of the bond pad exposed by an opening in the insulating layer; a mold compound encasing the semiconductor die; and an electrically insulative material filling the opening in the insulating layer and sealing the part of the bond pad exposed by the opening in the insulating layer. The electrically insulative material separates the mold compound from the part of the bond pad exposed by the opening in the insulating layer. A breakdown voltage of the electrically insulative material is greater than a breakdown voltage of the mold compound.

Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides a gallium and nitrogen containing structure. The structure has a plurality of gallium and nitrogen containing semiconductor substrates, each of the gallium and nitrogen containing semiconductor substrates having one or more epitaxially grown layers. The structure has a first handle substrate coupled to each of the substrates. The orientation of a reference crystal direction for each of the substrates are parallel to within 10 degrees or less. The structure has a first bonding medium provided between the first handle substrate and each of the substrates.

Abstract: A semiconductor device package includes an electronic component, an infrared blocking layer, an upper protection layer and a side protection layer. The infrared blocking layer includes a first portion disposed over the electronic component. The infrared blocking layer includes a second portion surrounding the electronic component. The first portion is integral with the second portion. The upper protection layer is disposed on the first portion of the infrared blocking layer. The side protection layer is disposed on the second portion of the infrared blocking layer. The upper protection layer and the side protection layer are formed of different materials.

Abstract: A wafer processing method includes: cutting a device layer stacked on a semiconductor substrate along division lines to form cut grooves; positioning a focal point of a laser beam having a transmission wavelength to the semiconductor substrate inside an area of the semiconductor substrate corresponding to a predetermined one of the division lines and applying the laser beam to the wafer from a back surface of the wafer, thereby forming a plurality of modified layers inside the wafer along all of the division lines; and grinding the back surface of the wafer to be thinned, causing a crack to grow from each of the modified layers formed inside the area of the semiconductor substrate corresponding to the predetermined one of the division lines to the front surface side of the wafer, thereby dividing the wafer into individual device chips.

Abstract: A wafer processing method includes a sheet bonding step of placing a polyolefin or polyester sheet on a front side of a wafer having a device area where devices are formed so as to be separated by division lines, the sheet having a size capable of covering the device area, and next performing thermocompression bonding to bond the sheet to the front side of the wafer, thereby protecting the front side of the wafer with the sheet. The method further includes a test element group (TEG) cutting step of applying a first laser beam through the sheet to the wafer along each division line thereby cutting a TEG formed on each division line, and a modified layer forming step of applying a second laser beam to a back side of the wafer along each division line, the second laser beam having a transmission wavelength to the wafer, thereby forming a modified layer inside the wafer along each division line.

Abstract: A mark pattern includes unit cells immediately adjacent to each other and arranged in a form of dot matrix to form a register mark or an identification code, wherein each unit cell has configuration identical to functional devices of pMOS and nMOS, and each unit cell includes a first active region, a second active region isolated from the first active region, and first gate structures extending along a first direction and are arranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the first gate structures straddling the first active region and the second active region, contact structures disposed between the first gate structures on the first active region and the second active region, and via structures disposed on the contact structures and two opposite ends of the first gate structures.

Abstract: A method for forming semiconductor devices from a semiconductor wafer includes cutting a first surface of a semiconductor wafer to form a first region that extends partially through the semiconductor wafer and the first region has a bottom portion. The method further includes directing a beam of laser light to the semiconductor wafer such that the beam of laser light is focused within the semiconductor wafer between the first surface and the second surface thereof and the beam of laser light further cuts the semiconductor wafer by material ablation to form a second region aligned with the first region. A resulting semiconductor device is disclosed as well.

Abstract: A method of processing a workpiece includes: a frame unit preparing step of preparing a frame unit including a tape affixed to an undersurface of the workpiece; a protective film forming step of forming a protective film on a top surface of the workpiece; a cutting step of cutting the workpiece by applying a laser beam; an interval expanding step of widening intervals between chips formed in the cutting step by expanding the tape outward in a radial direction; and an etching step of removing altered regions formed in the respective chips.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a molded chip includes a preparing step of sticking device faces of a plurality of device chips arrayed to a protective member that is thermally insulative, thereby forming a chip group; a molding step of, after the preparing step, supplying a molding resin to reverse sides of the device chips and gaps between the device chips, thereby forming a molded wafer in which the reverse sides and side faces of the device chips are covered with a resin molding; and a molded wafer dividing step of, after the molding step, dividing the molded wafer along centers of the gaps filled with the resin molding into molded chips on the basis of an image in which a face side of the molded wafer has been captured.

Abstract: A manufacturing process of an element chip comprises a preparing step for preparing a substrate having first and second sides opposed to each other, the substrate containing a semiconductor layer, a wiring layer and a resin layer formed on the first side, and the substrate including a plurality of dicing regions and element regions defined by the dicing regions. Also, the manufacturing process comprises a laser grooving step for irradiating a laser beam onto the dicing regions to form grooves so as to expose the semiconductor layer along the dicing regions. Further, the manufacturing process comprises a dicing step for plasma-etching the semiconductor layer along the dicing regions through the second side to divide the substrate into a plurality of the element chips. The laser grooving step includes a melting step for melting a surface of the semiconductor layer exposed along the dicing regions.

Abstract: In a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including a substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, and a film attached to the rear surface, the film is attached on the rear surface, a rear surface side groove is provided by half-cutting the substrate from the rear surface together with the film, a protective member is attached to the film after the rear surface side groove is provided, and a front surface side groove connected to the rear surface side groove is provided by dicing the substrate from the front surface after the protective member is attached.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor die, a plurality of conductive bumps, a shielding layer, an encapsulant and a redistribution layer. The semiconductor die has an active surface, a backside surface and a lateral surface. The conductive bumps are disposed on the active surface of the semiconductor die. The shielding layer is disposed on the lateral surface of the semiconductor die. The encapsulant covers the shielding layer, and has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The redistribution layer is disposed on the first surface of the encapsulant and electrically connected to the semiconductor die through the conductive bumps. The shielding layer is electrically connected to the redistribution layer.

Abstract: A thermocompression apparatus includes a stage and a heater chip. The stage includes an installation surface on which a component having a scheduled portion of thermocompression is placed. The heater chip is disposed to be freely movable to and from the scheduled portion of thermocompression of the component opposite to the installation surface of the stage and is configured to heat and press the scheduled portion of thermocompression. The installation surface includes a maximum convex and a pair of slope surfaces. The maximum convex is configured to contact with a bottom surface of the component. The pair of slope surfaces has heights decreasing respectively from the maximum convex toward both sides of the installation surface in a width direction of the component.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a substrate and an integrated circuit area on the substrate. The integrated circuit area includes a dielectric stack. A cap layer is disposed on the dielectric stack. A seal ring is disposed in the dielectric stack and around a periphery of the integrated circuit area. A trench is formed around the seal ring to expose a sidewall of the dielectric stack. A MIM capacitor including a CTM layer and a CBM layer is disposed on the dielectric stack. A moisture blocking layer continuously covers the integrated circuit area and the MIM capacitor. The cap layer is interposed between the CTM layer and the CBM layer of the MIM capacitor and functions as a capacitor dielectric layer of the MIM capacitor. The moisture blocking layer extends to the sidewall of the dielectric stack, thereby sealing a boundary between two adjacent dielectric films in the dielectric stack.

Abstract: Provided is a laser processing method including a first step of forming a first modified region along a cutting line by converging laser light on an object having a surface and a back surface with the back surface as an incident surface and moving a first converging point along the cutting line set to pass between an effective region and an ineffective region adjacent to each other while maintaining a distance between a surface and the first converging point at a first distance, and a second step of forming a second modified region along the cutting line by converging the laser light on the object with the back surface as the incident surface and moving a second converging point along the cutting line while maintaining a distance between the surface and the second converging point at a second distance larger than the first distance.

Abstract: A method for forming a package structure and method for forming the same are provided. The method includes forming a package layer over a substrate, and forming a first dielectric layer over the package layer. The method further includes forming a first alignment mark and a second alignment mark over the first dielectric layer. The method includes forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and removing a portion of the second dielectric layer to form a first trench to expose the first alignment mark, and to form a first opening to expose the second alignment.

Abstract: A method comprises forming a mask on a first surface of a substrate. The mask is patterned to form openings on the first surface of the substrate. Notches are formed in the first surface of the substrate in the openings. The mask is removed from the first surface of the substrate A plurality of LEDs are provided on the first surface of the substrate and between notches. A second surface of the substrate is thinned to expose the notches and separate the LEDs. The second surface of the substrate is opposite of the first surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a device chip includes a die bonding resin providing step of supplying a die bonding resin in a liquid state to a back surface side of a wafer with device chips formed on a front surface thereof and solidifying the die bonding resin, a water-soluble resin providing step of covering the die bonding resin with a water-soluble resin, a laser processing step of applying a laser beam from the back surface side of the wafer to remove the die bonding resin and the water-soluble resin, an etching step of etching an exposed portion on the back surface side of the wafer to divide the wafer, and a water-soluble resin removing step of supplying water on the back surface side of the wafer to remove the water-soluble resin.

Abstract: A semiconductor package includes a die and an encapsulant. The die has an active surface and an opposite backside surface. The encapsulant wraps around the die and has a recess reaching the backside surface. A span of the recess differs from a span of the backside surface and a span of the encapsulant. A manufacturing method includes at least the following steps. A blanket die attach film is spin-coated. A light exposure process is performed to the blanket die attach film. Blanket die attach film is developed to form a patterned die adhesive. A die is disposed over the patterned die adhesive with a backside surface closer to the patterned die adhesive. The patterned die adhesive is cured to affix the die. The die and the cured die adhesive are encapsulated in an encapsulant. The cured die adhesive is removed.

Abstract: Implementations of methods of singulating a plurality of die included in a substrate may include forming a plurality of die on a first side of a substrate, forming a backside metal layer on a second side of a substrate, applying a photoresist layer over the backside metal layer, patterning the photoresist layer along a die street of the substrate, and etching through the backside metal layer located in the die street of the substrate. The substrate may be exposed through the etch. The method may also include singulating the plurality of die included in the substrate through removing a substrate material in the die street.

Abstract: A method for constructing an advanced crack stop structure is described. An interconnection structure is formed comprised of a plurality of levels. Each level has an interconnect structure section and a crack stop section. In a first level of the interconnection structure, a high modulus layer is formed in the crack stop recess but not the interconnect recess and a barrier layer and a conductive metal layer is formed in both the interconnection recess and the crack stop recess of the first level. In a second level of the interconnection structure and the crack stop structure, a second high modulus layer is formed in the crack stop recess but not the interconnect recess and a barrier layer and a conductive metal layer is formed in both the interconnection recess and the crack stop recess of the second level. The barrier layers and high modulus layers are deposited in different steps.

Abstract: Implementations of die singulation systems and related methods may include forming a plurality of die on a first side of a substrate, forming a backside metal layer on a second side of a substrate, applying a photoresist layer over the backside metal layer, patterning the photoresist layer along a die street of the substrate, and forming a groove at the pattern of the photoresist layer only partially through a thickness of the backside metal layer. The groove may be located in the die street of the substrate. The method may also include etching through a remaining portion of the backside metal layer located in the die street, removing the photoresist layer, and singulating the plurality of die included in the substrate by removing substrate material in the die street.

Abstract: A substrate has first and second surfaces, and includes a plurality of element regions and dividing region defining the element regions. A method for manufacturing an element chip includes: a step of spray coating, to the first surface of the substrate, a mixture containing a water-soluble resin and an organic solvent having a higher vapor pressure than water, and drying the coated mixture at a temperature of 50° C. or less, to form a protective film; a laser grooving step of removing portions of the protective film covering the dividing regions; a step of dicing the substrate into element chips by plasma etching the substrate; and a step of removing the portions of the protective film covering the element regions. The mixture has a solid component ratio of 200 g/L or more, and droplets of the sprayed mixture have an average particle size of 12 ?m or less.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a color film substrate and a preparation method therefor, a display device and a glue applying system. The method for preparing a color film substrate includes forming a transparent insulating layer, wherein thickness of the transparent insulating layer is determined according to thickness of a metal film layer on an array substrate that is paired with the color film substrate.

Abstract: Methods are provided for patterning an active region formed in a semiconductor wafer. In one aspect, the methods generally include providing active regions and kerf regions between active regions in the semiconductor wafer, wherein the active regions and the kerf regions include a patterned dielectric layer, a metal conductor, and a liner layer between the dielectric layer and the metal conductor. An upper surface of the active regions and the kerf regions is planarized to form a planar surface. The metal conductor from the kerf regions is selectively removed to form a trench. An optically opaque layer is conformally deposited onto the semiconductor wafer to form a recessed alignment mark in the kerf regions. The active regions are then patterned using the recessed alignment mark in the kerf region.

Abstract: A processing method for processing a plate-shaped workpiece having a division line on the front side and a multilayer member containing metal formed on the back side is provided. The processing method includes a holding step of holding the front side of the workpiece on a holding table in the condition where the multilayer member formed on the back side of the workpiece is exposed, a cutting step of cutting the workpiece along the division line by using a cutting blade after performing the holding step, thereby forming a cut groove dividing the multilayer member, and a laser processing step of applying a laser beam to the workpiece along the cut groove after performing the cutting step. The cutting step includes the step of supplying a cutting fluid containing an organic acid and an oxidizing agent to the workpiece.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing an interior material, which can implement various and distinct light emission effects by disposing a light-blocking layer configured to block light emitted from a light source at a location adjacent to an inner transparent film and then allowing the component of the transparent film to fill lighting grooves formed by laser-etching. Since a tape configured to support an island is employed, stable manufacturing is possible throughout an overall process.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes an active area of the IC structure insulator positioned over a substrate. The active area includes an interconnection structure comprised of a first plurality of levels. Each of the interconnect structure levels including an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer, a barrier layer disposed over the ILD and a conductor metal layer over the barrier layer. The structure also includes a crack stop area which includes a crack stop structure having a second plurality of levels. The interconnect and crack stop structures have an equal number of levels. A third plurality of the crack stop structure levels include a high modulus layer unique to the respective crack stop structure level as compared to the corresponding interconnect structure level.

Abstract: A method for creating an integrated circuit (IC) structure includes an active area of the IC structure insulator positioned over a substrate. The active area includes an interconnection structure comprised of a plurality of levels, each of the interconnect structure levels including an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer, a barrier layer disposed over the ILD and a conductor metal layer over the barrier layer. The IC structure also includes a crack stop area which includes a crack stop structure having an equal plurality of levels as the interconnect structure. Each of the crack stop structure levels includes at least one of the layers of the interconnection structure at a same level. At least one crack stop structure level also includes a high modulus layer unique to the crack stop structure level as compared to the corresponding interconnect structure level. In another aspect of the invention, a method for producing the structure is described.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes an active area of the IC structure insulator positioned over a substrate. The active area includes an interconnection structure comprised of a plurality of levels, each of the interconnect structure levels including an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer, a barrier layer disposed over the ILD and a conductor metal layer over the barrier layer. The IC structure also includes a crack stop area which includes a crack stop structure having an equal plurality of levels as the interconnect structure. Each of the crack stop structure levels includes at least one of the layers of the interconnection structure at a same level. At least one crack stop structure level also includes a high modulus layer unique to the crack stop structure level as compared to the corresponding interconnect structure level.

Abstract: A composite wafer includes a first silicon die with a first top surface; and a polymer substrate with a top surface and a bottom surface. The silicon die is embedded in the polymer substrate such that the top surface of the substrate and the first top surface of the first silicon die are coplanar and the bottom surface of the polymer substrate is planar.

Abstract: A method of processing a wafer having devices disposed in respective regions demarcated on a front face thereof by a grid of a plurality of projected dicing lines on the front face, the method includes a mask layer forming step of covering the front face of the wafer except for the regions where grooves are to be formed along the projected dicing lines with a resin material mixed with an ultraviolet ray absorber, and forming a mask layer on the front face of the wafer, a plasma etching step of performing plasma etching on the wafer from the mask layer side using a fluorine-based stable gas as an etching gas, and forming grooves in the wafer along the projected dicing lines, and a mask layer removing step of removing the mask layer after the plasma etching step is performed.