Patent · US Expired

Interconnect run between a first point and a second point in a semiconductor device for reducing electromigration failure

US5760476A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
10References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 15, 1996
Grant dateJun 2, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 15, 2016

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 conn…

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