Patent · US Expired

Semiconductor device interconnect layout structure for reducing premature electromigration failure due to high localized current density

US5461260A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
6References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 1, 1994
Grant dateOct 24, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 1, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S257/92
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a first approach, an interconnect structure (10) reduces peak localized interconnect current density by distributing current flow around the perimeter (22) of an interlevel connector (14) in a semiconductor device. A first interconnect level (12) is connected to a second interconnect level by the interlevel connector (14), and the perimeter (22) of the interlevel connector (14) is located at the juncture between the first interconnect level (12) and the interlevel connector (14). The first interconnect level (12) has two or more fingers (16,18,20) protruding therefrom that connect to the perimeter (22) of the interlevel connector (14). At least one opening (36,38) is disposed between two of the fingers (16,18,20) for dividing current flow. In a second approach, an interconnect level (50) is formed of a polycrystalline material and connects two points in the semiconductor device using essentially only a plurality of branches (52) each having a linewidth (W) less than the median grain size of the polycrystalline material. In a third approach, an interconnect run (60) consists essentially of a plurality of upper and lower straps (62,64) connected by a plurality of interlevel connec…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.