An integrated circuit (IC) comprising an enhanced passivation scheme for pad openings and trenches is provided. In some embodiments, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer covers a substrate and at least partially defines a trench. The trench extends through the ILD layer from a top of the ILD layer to the substrate. A conductive pad overlies the ILD layer. A first passivation layer overlies the ILD layer and the conductive pad, and further defines a pad opening overlying the conductive pad. A second passivation layer overlies the ILD layer, the conductive pad, and the first passivation layer, and further lines sidewalls of the first passivation layer in the pad opening and sidewalls of the ILD layer in the trench. Further, the second passivation layer has a low permeability for moisture or vapor relative to the ILD layer.

A semiconductor chip package includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a semiconductor device mounted on the top surface of the substrate. A gap is provided between the semiconductor device and the top surface of the substrate. A multi-layer laminate epoxy sheet is disposed on the top surface of the substrate and around a perimeter of the semiconductor device.

A bonding pad for an integrated circuit is formed by a stack of bonding pad layers. A lower bonding pad layer is supported by a bonding pad support layer. A passivation layer extends over the lower bonding pad layer and includes a passivation opening at a portion of an upper surface of the lower bonding pad layer. An upper bonding pad layer rests on said passivation layer and in the passivation opening in contact with the lower bonding pad layer.

A method of forming a sandwich passivation layer (405) on a semiconductor device (400) comprising a bond pad (404) is provided. The method comprises forming a first layer (406) over a surface of the semiconductor device (400), removing a part of the first layer (406) to expose a surface of the bond pad (404), forming a second layer (407) over the first layer (406) and the surface of the bond pad (404), and forming a third layer (408) over the second layer (407), wherein the surface of the bond pad (404) is not in contact with the first layer (406) or third layer (408).

Integrated circuit (IC) chips and seal ring structures are provided. An IC chip according to the present disclosure includes a substrate that has a device region and a ring region surrounding the device region, an interconnect structure disposed on the substrate, a first passivation layer disposed over the interconnect structure, a first contact via ring embedded in the first passivation layer, a first contact pad ring disposed on the first contact via ring and the first passivation layer, a second passivation layer disposed over the first contact pad ring, and a polymer layer disposed on a portion of the second passivation layer. The first contact via ring and the first contact pad ring completely surround the device region.

Disclosed semiconductor device manufacturing processes improve the flatness of a passivation layer deposited above a redistribution layer (RDL). When a thin passivation layer is deposited above the RDL, its top surface tends to become very uneven due to the large gaps that typically form over the etched portions of the RDL, particularly when the RDL is disposed over an underlying super high density metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. In order to reduce the incidence of stress concentration areas on the uneven surface, a thicker passivation layer is instead deposited to minimize gap formation therein, and a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process is then performed to further smooth the top surface thereof. Reduction of the stress in this manner reduces the incidence of cracking of the underlying MIM, which improves the overall pass rates of semiconductor devices so manufactured.

A high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) includes a buffer layer on a substrate, a barrier layer on the buffer layer, a p-type semiconductor layer on the barrier layer, a first layer adjacent to a first side of the p-type semiconductor layer without extending to a second side of the p-type semiconductor layer, and a second layer adjacent to the second side of the p-type semiconductor layer without extending to the first side of the p-type semiconductor layer.

The present disclosure provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device including performing a bonding process to bond a second die onto a first die, forming a first mask layer on the second die, forming a first opening along the first mask layer and the second die, and extending to the first die, forming isolation layers on sidewalls of the first opening, forming protection layers covering upper portions of the isolation layers, and forming a conductive filler layer in the first opening.

A three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) is provided. In some embodiments, a second IC die is bonded to a first IC die. The first IC die includes a first semiconductor substrate and a first interconnect structure over the first semiconductor substrate. The second IC die includes a second semiconductor substrate and a second interconnect structure over the second semiconductor substrate. A plurality of electrical coupling structures is arranged at the peripheral region of the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device. The plurality of electrical coupling structures respectively comprises a through silicon via (TSV) disposed in the second semiconductor substrate and electrically coupled to the first semiconductor device through a stack of wiring layers and inter-wire vias.

According to one or more embodiments, a semiconductor package includes: a first semiconductor chip including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface and including a chip pad provided on the upper surface; a first cover insulating layer covering the upper surface and the side surface of the first semiconductor chip; a first upper conductive layer extending along an upper surface of the first cover insulating layer and connected to the chip pad of the first semiconductor chip; a first side conductive layer extending along a side surface of the first cover insulating layer and connected to the first upper conductive layer; a second cover insulating layer covering the first upper conductive layer, the first side conductive layer, and the first cover insulating layer; and a first lower conductive layer extending along the lower surface of the first semiconductor chip and connected to the first side conductive layer.