Patent · US Expired

Method of protecting a passivation layer during solder bump formation

US6782897B2 · kind B2 · utility

27Cited by
4References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 23, 2002
Grant dateAug 31, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 11, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/014
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for protecting a passivation layer during a solder bump formation process including providing a semiconductor process wafer having a process surface including at least two metal layers comprising an uppermost metal layer and a lowermost metal layer said lowermost metal layer overlying a passivation layer including metal bonding pad regions; photolithographically patterning and anisotropically etching through a first thickness portion of at least the uppermost metal layer to form a first patterned metal layer portion disposed over the metal bonding pad regions and reveal a second thickness portion including the lowermost metal layer; forming a solder bump over the first patterned metal layer portion according to at least a first reflow process; and, anisotropically etching through the second thickness portion surrounding the completely formed solder bump to reveal the passivation layer.

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