Patent · US Expired

Stacked via-stud with improved reliability in copper metallurgy

US6972209B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
2References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 27, 2002
Grant dateDec 6, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 22, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/24917
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A multilevel semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) structure including a first interconnect level including a layer of dielectric material over a semiconductor substrate, the layer of dielectric material comprising a dense material for passivating semiconductor devices and local interconnects underneath; multiple interconnect layers of dielectric material formed above the layer of dense dielectric material, each layer of dielectric material including at least a layer of low-k dielectric material; and, a set of stacked via-studs in the low-k dielectric material layers, each of said set of stacked via studs interconnecting one or more patterned conductive structures, a conductive structure including a cantilever formed in the low-k dielectric material. The dielectric layer of each of the multiple interconnection levels includes a soft low-k dielectric material, wherein the cantilever and set of stacked via-studs are integrated within the soft low-k dielectric material to increase resistance to thermal fatigue crack formation. In one embodiment, each of the set of stacked via-studs in the low-k dielectric material layers is provided with a cantilever, such that the cantilevers are int…

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