Abstract: An image sensor includes a first chip that includes a pixel region and a pad region, and a second chip that is in contact with one surface of the first chip and includes circuits that drive the first chip. The first chip includes a first substrate, an interlayer insulating layer disposed between the first substrate and the second chip, first interconnection lines disposed in the interlayer insulating layer, a conductive pad disposed in the pad region between the second chip and the first interconnection lines, and a recess region formed in the pad region that penetrates the first substrate and the interlayer insulating layer and exposes the conductive pad.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and apparatus for filling one or more gaps on a semiconductor substrate. The disclosed embodiments are especially useful for forming seam-free, void-free fill in both narrow and wide features. The methods may be performed without any intervening etching operations to achieve a single step deposition. In various implementations, a first operation is performed using a novel PEALD fill mechanism to fill narrow gaps and line wide gaps. A second operation may be performed using PECVD methods to continue filling the wide gaps.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods of forming a textile patterned hardmask. In an embodiment, a first hardmask and a second hardmask are formed over a top surface of an interconnect layer in an alternating pattern. A sacrificial cross-grating may then be formed over the first and second hardmasks. In an embodiment, portions of the first hardmask that are not covered by the sacrificial cross-grating are removed to form first openings and a third hardmask is disposed into the first openings. Embodiments may then include etching through portions of the second hardmask that are not covered by the sacrificial cross-grating to form second openings. The second openings may be filled with a fourth hardmask. According to an embodiment, the first, second, third, and fourth hardmasks are etch selective to each other. In an embodiment the sacrificial cross-grating may then be removed.

Abstract: A device includes a first conductive feature in an insulating layer; a dielectric layer over the first conductive feature; a second conductive feature in the dielectric layer, wherein the second conductive feature is over and physically contacting the first conductive feature; an air spacer encircling the second conductive feature, wherein sidewalls of the second conductive feature are exposed to the air spacer; a metal cap covering the second conductive feature and extending over the air spacer, wherein the air spacer is sealed by a bottom surface of the metal cap; a first etch stop layer on the dielectric layer, wherein a sidewall of the first etch stop layer physically contacts a sidewall of the metal cap; and a second etch stop layer extending on a top surface of the metal cap and a top surface of the first etch stop layer.

Abstract: An electronic substrate may be fabricated to include a fine pitch dielectric layer having an upper surface, a coarse pitch dielectric layer on the upper surface of the fine pitch dielectric layer, and at least one hybrid conductive via extending through the fine pitch dielectric layer and the coarse pitch dielectric layer. The hybrid conductive via is fabricated such that a portion thereof that extends through the fine pitch dielectric layer is smaller than a portion extending through the coarse pitch dielectric layer, which results in a stepped configuration, wherein a portion of the hybrid conductive via abuts the upper surface of the fine pitch dielectric layer. In an embodiment of the present description, an integrated circuit package may be formed with the electronic substrate, wherein at least two integrated circuit devices may be attached to the electronic substrate, such that the bridge provides device-to-device interconnection therebetween.

Abstract: A memory cell includes: a first electrode; a resistive material layer comprising one horizontal portion and two vertical portions that are respectively coupled to ends of the horizontal portion; and a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is partially surrounded by a top boundary of the U-shaped profile and the first electrode extends along part of a bottom boundary of the U-shaped profile.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) in which a shield structure blocks the migration of charge to a semiconductor device from proximate a through substrate via (TSV). In some embodiments, the IC comprises a substrate, an interconnect structure, the semiconductor device, the TSV, and the shield structure. The interconnect structure is on a frontside of the substrate and comprises a wire. The semiconductor device is on the frontside of the substrate, between the substrate and the interconnect structure. The TSV extends completely through the substrate, from a backside of the substrate to the wire, and comprises metal. The shield structure comprises a PN junction extending completely through the substrate and directly between the semiconductor device and the TSV.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a gate structure on a substrate; forming a source/drain region adjacent to the gate structure; performing a first cleaning process; performing a first rapid thermal anneal (RTA) process to remove oxygen cluster in the substrate; forming a metal layer on the source/drain region; and performing a second RTA process to transform the metal layer into a silicide layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a substrate. A first conductive feature is over the substrate. A second conductive feature is over the substrate and is adjacent to the first conductive feature. The first and second conductive features are separated by a cavity. A dielectric liner extends from the first conductive feature to the second conductive feature along a bottom of the cavity and further extends along opposing sidewalls of the first and second conductive features. A dielectric cap covers and seals the cavity. The dielectric cap has a top surface that is approximately planar with top surfaces of the first and second conductive features. The first conductive feature and the second conductive feature comprise graphene intercalated with one or more metals.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an integrated chip structure. The method may be performed by forming a plurality of interconnect layers within a first interconnect structure disposed over an upper surface of a first semiconductor substrate. An edge trimming process is performed to remove parts of the first interconnect structure and the first semiconductor substrate along a perimeter of the first semiconductor substrate. The edge trimming process results in the first semiconductor substrate having a recessed surface coupled to the upper surface by way of an interior sidewall disposed directly over the first semiconductor substrate. A dielectric capping structure is formed onto a sidewall of the first interconnect structure after performing the edge trimming process.

Abstract: A semiconductor device according to some example embodiments includes a substrate, an insulating structure covering the substrate, a transistor between the substrate and the insulating structure, a via insulating layer extending through the insulating structure and the substrate, a plurality of via structures extending through the via insulating layer, a plurality of conductive structures respectively connected to the plurality of via structures, and a plurality of bumps respectively connected to the conductive structures.

Abstract: The embodiment of the application provides a semiconductor structure and a method for forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes: a substrate structure is provided, in which the substrate structure at least including bit line structures and a plurality of landing pads, each of the plurality of landing pads is formed around a respective one of the bit line structures and covers a part of the respective one of the bit line structures, and a gap is formed between each two adjacent landing pads of the plurality of landing pads; and capacitive structures are formed on top surfaces of the plurality of landing pads and in the gaps.

Abstract: Techniques for area scaling of contacts in VTFET devices are provided. In one aspect, a VTFET device includes: a fin(s); a bottom source/drain region at a base of the fin(s); a gate stack alongside the fin(s); a top source/drain region present at a top of the fin(s); a bottom source/drain contact to the bottom source/drain region; and a gate contact to the gate stack, wherein the bottom source drain and gate contacts each includes a top portion having a width W1CONTACT over a bottom portion having a width W2CONTACT, wherein W2CONTACT<W1CONTACT, and wherein a sidewall along the top portion is discontinuous with a sidewall along the bottom portion. The bottom portion having the width W2CONTACT is present alongside the gate stack and the top source/drain region. A method of forming a VTFET device is also provided.

Abstract: A method includes etching a dielectric layer to form an opening. A first conductive feature underlying the dielectric layer is exposed to the opening. A sacrificial spacer layer is deposited to extend into the opening. The sacrificial spacer layer is patterned. A bottom portion of the sacrificial spacer layer at a bottom of the opening is removed to reveal the first conductive feature, and a vertical portion of the sacrificial spacer layer in the opening and on sidewalls of the dielectric layer is left to form a ring. A second conductive feature is formed in the opening. The second conductive feature is encircled by the ring, and is over and electrically coupled to the first conductive feature. At least a portion of the ring is removed to form an air spacer.

Abstract: A method includes identifying at least a first mask or a second mask, fabricating, by the first mask, a first conductive line, fabricating, by the second mask, a second conductive line, and fabricating, by the first mask, a third conductive line if a dimension of the first conductive line is larger than a corresponding dimension of the second conductive line, or fabricating, by the second mask, the third conductive line if the dimension of the first conductive line is less than the corresponding dimension of the second conductive line A first circuit element is coupled to a second circuit element by at least the third conductive line, and the first circuit element is separated from the second circuit element by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method of manufacture are provided which utilize an air gap to help isolate conductive structures within a dielectric layer. A first etch stop layer is deposited over the conductive structures, and the first etch stop layer is patterned to expose corner portions of the conductive structures. A portion of the dielectric layer is removed to form an opening. A second etch stop layer is deposited to line the opening, wherein the second etch stop layer forms a stepped structure over the corner portions of the conductive structures. Dielectric material is then deposited into the opening such that an air gap is formed to isolate the conductive structures.

Abstract: Interconnects and methods of fabricating a plurality of interconnects. The method includes depositing a conformal layer of a plating base in each of a plurality of vias, and depositing a photoresist on two portions of a surface of the plating base outside and above the plurality of vias. The method also includes depositing a plating metal over the plating base in each of the plurality of vias, the depositing resulting in each of the plurality of vias being completely filled or incompletely filled, performing a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), and performing metrology to determine if any of the plurality of vias is incompletely filled following the depositing the plating metal. A second iteration of the depositing the plating metal over the plating base is performed in each of the plurality of vias based on determining that at least one of the plurality of vias is incompletely filled.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of semiconductors, and provides a semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method thereof. The manufacturing method of a semiconductor structure includes: providing a substrate having bit line contact regions; and forming a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer in each of the bit line contact regions. In the present disclosure, a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer are formed through two deposition processes separately, and a concentration of doped impurities in the first conductive layer is lower than a concentration of doped impurities in the second conductive layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) structure in a memory device is described. In an example, the IC structure includes a memory cell including a bitline (BL) extending along a first direction and a channel extending along a second direction above and diagonal to the BL. In the example, a wordline (WL) extends in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction of the BL and intersects with the channel to control a current in the channel along a gated channel length. In some examples, the channel is electrically coupled on a first side to a storage capacitor via a storage node contact (SNC) and on a second side to the BL via a bit line contact (BLC) located on an underside or backside of the channel.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes a first low-k dielectric layer having a first k value, and a second low-k dielectric layer having a second k value lower than the first k value. The second low-k dielectric layer is overlying the first low-k dielectric layer. A dual damascene structure includes a via with a portion in the first low-k dielectric layer, and a metal line over and joined to the via. The metal line includes a portion in the second low-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: A forming method for an opening structure includes: a substrate is provided, where a target layer is formed in the substrate, and the substrate exposes a surface of the target layer; an annular gasket is formed on the surface of the target layer, where a central through hole exposing a part of the surface of the target layer is provided in a center of the annular gasket; a dielectric layer covering the substrate, the target layer and the annular gasket is formed; and the dielectric layer is etched to form an etching hole communicating with the central through hole in the dielectric layer, where the etching hole and the central through hole form an opening structure.

Abstract: Broadband ultrasound transducers and related methods are disclosed herein. An example ultrasonic transducer disclosed herein includes a substrate and a first membrane supported by the substrate. The first membrane is to exhibit a first frequency response when oscillated. The example ultrasonic transducer includes a second membrane supported by the substrate. The second membrane is to exhibit a second frequency response different from the first frequency response when oscillated. The example ultrasonic transducer includes a third membrane supported by the substrate. The third membrane is to exhibit one of the second frequency response or a third frequency response different from the first frequency response and the second frequency response when oscillated. A shape of the first membrane is to differ from a shape of the second membrane and a shape of the third membrane.

Abstract: Airgap isolation for back-end-of-the-line interconnect structures includes a dielectric liner formed above a top surface and opposite sidewalls of each of a plurality of metal lines on a substrate, the dielectric liner disposed above a top surface of the substrate not covered by the plurality of metal lines, portions of the dielectric liner located on the opposite sidewalls of each of the plurality of metal lines are separated by a space. A dielectric cap is disposed above an uppermost surface of portions of the dielectric liner above each of the plurality of metal lines and above the space, the dielectric cap pinches-off the space between portions of the dielectric liner located on the opposite sidewalls of each of the plurality of metal lines for providing airgaps between adjacent metal lines.

Abstract: A display device includes a substrate including a plurality of sub-pixels, a first buffer layer on the substrate, an etch stopper on the first buffer layer, a second buffer layer covering the first buffer layer, and a first transistor on the second buffer layer. The first transistor includes a source electrode and a drain electrode overlapping the etch stopper. The etch stopper includes a hole in which at least one of the source electrode and the drain electrode is disposed. The etch stopper is spaced apart from the source electrode and the drain electrode. Therefore, it is possible to prevent moisture and impurities from penetrating into a display device by protecting a buffer layer.

Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises pillar structures extending vertically through an isolation material, conductive lines electrically coupled to the pillar structures, contact structures between the pillar structures and the conductive lines, and interconnect structures between the conductive lines and the contact structures. The conductive lines comprise one or more of titanium, ruthenium, aluminum, and molybdenum. The interconnect structures comprise a material composition that is different than one or more of a material composition of the contact structures and a material composition of the conductive lines. Related memory devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming a semiconductor structure. The method includes the following operations. A metal layer is formed. An adhesion-enhancing layer is formed over the metal layer. A dielectric stack is formed over the adhesion-enhancing layer. A trench is formed in the dielectric stack. A barrier layer is formed conforming to the sidewall of the trench. A high-k dielectric layer is formed conforming to the barrier layer. A sacrificial layer is formed conforming to the high-k dielectric layer.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of techniques or systems for forming a semiconductor structure are provided herein. A first metal region is formed within a first dielectric region. A cap region is formed on the first metal region. A second dielectric region is formed above the cap region and the first dielectric region. A trench opening is formed within the second dielectric region. A via opening is formed through the second dielectric region, the cap region, and within some of the first metal region by over etching. A barrier region is formed within the trench opening and the via opening. A via plug is formed within the via opening and a second metal region is formed within the trench opening. The via plug electrically connects the first metal region to the second metal region and has a tapered profile.

Abstract: a transistor and an interconnect structure disposed over the transistor. The interconnect structure includes a first dielectric layer, a first conductive feature in the first dielectric layer, a first etch stop layer (ESL) disposed over the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature, a dielectric feature disposed in the first ESL, an electrode disposed over the dielectric feature, and a second ESL disposed on the first ESL and the electrode.

Abstract: An interconnection structure, along with methods of forming such, are described. The structure includes a dielectric material and a conductive feature extending through the dielectric material. The conductive feature includes a conductive material and has a first top surface. The structure further includes a dummy conductive feature disposed adjacent the conductive feature in the dielectric material, and the dummy conductive feature has a second top surface substantially co-planar with the first top surface. An air gap is formed in the dummy conductive feature.

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) interconnect structures employing via layer conductive structures in via layers are disclosed. The via layer conductive structures in a signal path in an interconnect structure are disposed in respective via layers adjacent to metal lines in metal layers. The via layer conductive structures increase the conductive cross-sections of signal paths between devices in an integrated circuit (IC) or to/from an external contact. The via layer conductive structures provide one or both of supplementing the height dimensions of metal lines and electrically coupling metal lines in the same or different metal layers to increase the conductive cross-section of a signal path. The increased conductive cross-section reduces current-resistance (IR) drop of signals and increases signal speed. As metal track pitches are reduced in size, signal path resistance increases. The via layer conductive structures are provided to reduce or avoid an even greater increase in resistance in the signal paths.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising a stack structure comprising one or more stacks of materials and one or more silicon carbide materials adjacent to the one or more stacks of materials. The materials of the one or more stacks comprise a single chalcogenide material and one or more of a conductive carbon material, a conductive material, and a hardmask material. The one or more silicon carbide materials comprises silicon carbide, silicon carboxide, silicon carbonitride, silicon carboxynitride, and also comprise silicon-carbon covalent bonds. The one or more silicon carbide materials is configured as a liner or as a seal. Additional electronic devices are disclosed, as are related systems and methods of forming an electronic device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board includes: forming first and second resist films, respectively having first and second openings exposing a first metal layer disposed on one surface of an insulating layer; forming a second metal layer on the first metal layer, exposed through the first and second openings, to fill at least a portion of each of the first and second openings; and removing the first and second resist films. The first and second openings have different widths in a cross-section.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing a plurality of sample reads for genome sequencing include, for each sample read of the plurality of sample reads, comparing substring sequences from the sample read to reference sequences representing different portions of a reference genome. One or more reference sequences are identified that match one or more of the compared substring sequences, and a probabilistic location within the reference genome is determined for the sample read based on the one or more identified reference sequences. The plurality of sample reads is sorted into a plurality of sample groups based on the determined probabilistic locations of the respective sample reads.

Abstract: A method includes forming a metal seed layer over a first conductive feature of a wafer, forming a patterned photo resist on the metal seed layer, forming a second conductive feature in an opening in the patterned photo resist, and heating the wafer to generate a gap between the second conductive feature and the patterned photo resist. A protection layer is plated on the second conductive feature. The method further includes removing the patterned photo resist, and etching the metal seed layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a dielectric structure, an electrical insulating and thermal conductive layer and a circuit layer. The electrical insulating and thermal conductive layer is disposed over the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric structure is disposed over the electrical insulating and thermal conductive layer, wherein a thermal conductivity of the electrical insulating and thermal conductive layer is substantially greater than a thermal conductivity of the dielectric structure. The circuit layer is disposed in the dielectric structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are related to improved methods for forming an interconnect structure in a substrate. In one implementation, the method includes forming a barrier layer on exposed surfaces of a feature in a dielectric layer, forming a liner layer on the barrier layer, forming a seed layer on the liner layer, forming a metal fill on the seed layer by a metal fill process and overburdening the feature using an electroplating process, performing a planarization process to expose a top surface of the dielectric layer, and selectively forming a cobalt-aluminum alloy cap layer on the barrier layer, the liner layer, the seed layer, and the metal fill by exposing the substrate to a cobalt-containing precursor and an aluminum-containing precursor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing semiconductor substrates in an integration scheme to form chamferless vias are provided herein. Methods include bifurcating etching of dielectric by depositing a conformal removable sealant layer having properties for selective removal relative to dielectric material without damaging dielectric material. Some methods include forming an ashable conformal sealant layer. Methods also include forming hard masks including a Group IV metal and removing conformal removable sealant layers and hard masks in one operation using same etching chemistries.

Abstract: According to various embodiments of the disclosure, an electronic device may include a housing, a non-conductive supporting member disposed in the housing and including a first area, a second area spaced apart from the first area, and a third area connecting the first area and the second area, a conductive pattern portion disposed over the first area of the supporting member, a heat dissipation member disposed to at least partially overlap the conductive pattern portion, and an antenna including a circuit board, a conductive portion, and a ground portion. The conductive portion of the antenna may be disposed over the second area. The heat dissipation member may extend from the first area to the third area, and the ground portion of the antenna may extend from the second area to the third area to contact at least a portion of the heat dissipation member.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a method for forming an integrated chip, the method includes forming a first conductive wire and a second conductive wire over a substrate. A dielectric structure is formed laterally between the first conductive wire and the second conductive wire. The dielectric structure comprises a first dielectric liner, a dielectric layer disposed between opposing sidewalls of the first dielectric liner, and a void between an upper surface of the first dielectric liner and a lower surface of the dielectric layer. A dielectric capping layer is formed along an upper surface of the dielectric structure. Sidewalls of the dielectric capping layer are aligned with sidewalls of the dielectric structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first conductive structure. The semiconductor device includes a first dielectric structure. The semiconductor device includes a second conductive structure. The first dielectric structure is positioned between a first surface of the first conductive structure and a surface of the second conductive structure. The semiconductor device includes an etch stop layer overlaying the first conductive structure. The semiconductor device includes a first spacer structure overlaying the first dielectric structure. The semiconductor device includes a second dielectric structure overlaying the first spacer structure and the etch stop layer.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a first pair of power rails and a second pair of power rails that are disposed in a first layer, conductive lines disposed in a second layer above the first layer, and a first active area disposed in a third layer above the second layer. The first active area is arranged to overlap the first pair of power rails. The first active area is coupled to the first pair of power rails through a first line of the conductive lines and a first group of vias, and the first active area is coupled to the second pair of power rails through at least one second line of the conductive lines and a second group of vias different from the first group of vias.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a peripheral circuit structure including a first substrate and circuit elements on the first substrate; and a memory cell structure including a second substrate on the first substrate, a first horizontal conductive layer on the second substrate, a second horizontal conductive layer on the first horizontal conductive layer, gate electrodes spaced apart from each other and stacked on the second horizontal conductive layer, channel structures penetrating through the gate electrodes, and separation regions penetrating the gate electrodes, extending, and spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a fin-type active region protruding from a top surface of a substrate and extending in a first direction parallel to the top surface of the substrate, a gate structure intersecting with the fin-type active region and extending on the substrate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a source/drain region on a first side of the gate structure, a first contact structure on the source/drain region, and a contact capping layer on the first contact structure. A top surface of the first contact structure has a first width in the first direction, a bottom surface of the contact capping layer has a second width greater than the first width stated above in the first direction, and the contact capping layer includes a protruding portion extending outward from a sidewall of the first contact structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device package including a first substrate and an adhesive layer. The first substrate has a first surface and a conductive pad adjacent to the first surface. The conductive pad has a first surface exposed from the first substrate. The adhesive layer is disposed on the first surface of the first substrate. The adhesive layer has a first surface facing the first substrate. The first surface of the adhesive layer is spaced apart from the first surface of the conductive pad in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface of the first substrate. The conductive pad and the adhesive layer are partially overlapping in the first direction.

Abstract: An integrated circuit interconnect level including a lower metallization line vertically spaced from upper metallization lines. Lower metallization lines may be self-aligned to upper metallization lines enabling increased metallization line width without sacrificing line density for a given interconnect level. Combinations of upper and lower metallization lines within an interconnect metallization level may be designed to control intra-layer resistance/capacitance of integrated circuit interconnect. Dielectric material between two adjacent co-planar metallization lines may be recessed or deposited selectively to the metallization lines. Supplemental metallization may then be deposited and planarized. A top surface of the supplemental metallization may either be recessed to form lower metallization lines between upper metallization lines, or planarized with dielectric material to form upper metallization lines between lower metallization lines.

Abstract: A method of forming an interconnect structure for semiconductor devices is described. The method comprises depositing an etch stop layer on a substrate by physical vapor deposition followed by in situ deposition of a metal layer on the etch stop layer. The in situ deposition comprises flowing a plasma processing gas into the chamber and exciting the plasma processing gas into a plasma to deposit the metal layer on the etch stop layer on the substrate. The substrate is continuously under vacuum and is not exposed to ambient air during the deposition processes.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a subtractive top via as a bottom electrode contact for an embedded memory structure. Forming the bottom electrode contact includes depositing a conductive material on an underlayer and etching the conductive material to form an extended via and a conductive pad as an integral unit. The extended via extends from the conductive pad such that the extended via is adjacent to a memory structure, the extended via being formed as a first contact for the memory structure.

Abstract: An interconnect structure and a method of forming an interconnect structure are disclosed. The interconnect structure includes a conductive plug over a substrate; a conductive feature over the conductive plug, wherein the conductive feature has a first sidewall, a second sidewall facing the first sidewall, and a bottom surface; and a carbon-containing barrier layer having a first portion along the first sidewall of the conductive feature, a second portion along the second sidewall of the conductive feature, and a third portion along the bottom surface of the conductive feature.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device structure includes forming a first metallization line and a second metallization line extending along a first direction; forming a first isolation feature and a second isolation feature between the first metallization line and the second metallization line, wherein the first metallization line, the second metallization line, the first isolation feature and the second isolation feature define an aperture; forming a profile modifier within the aperture, wherein the profile modifier comprises a plurality of segments spaced apart from each other, wherein each of the segments are located at corners of the aperture; and forming a contact feature surrounded by the plurality of segments.

Abstract: In certain aspects, a chip includes a pad, and a first passivation layer, wherein a first portion of the first passivation layer extends over a first portion of the pad. The chip also includes a first metal layer between the first portion of the pad and the first portion of the first passivation layer. The chip further includes an under bump metallization (UBM) electrically coupled to a second portion of the pad.