An apparatus relating generally to a substrate is disclosed. In this apparatus, a post extends from the substrate. The post includes a conductor member. An upper portion of the post extends above an upper surface of the substrate. An exterior surface of the post associated with the upper portion is in contact with a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and adjacent to the post to provide a dielectric collar for the post. An exterior surface of the dielectric collar is in contact with a conductor layer. The conductor layer is disposed adjacent to the dielectric collar to provide a metal collar for the post, where a top surface of each of the conductor member, the dielectric collar and the metal collar have formed thereon a bond structure for interconnection of the metal collar and the conductor member.

Example methods, apparatus, and products for creating an environmentally protective coating for integrated circuit assemblies are described herein. A preform plastic sheet is places over components of an integrated circuit such that during a reflow process, the preform plastic sheet melts to form a conformal coating over components of the integrated circuit assembly.

Example methods, apparatus, and products for creating an environmentally protective coating for integrated circuit assemblies are described herein. A preform plastic sheet is places over components of an integrated circuit such that during a reflow process, the preform plastic sheet melts to form a conformal coating over components of the integrated circuit assembly.

An apparatus relating generally to a substrate is disclosed. In this apparatus, a post extends from the substrate. The post includes a conductor member. An upper portion of the post extends above an upper surface of the substrate. An exterior surface of the post associated with the upper portion is in contact with a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and adjacent to the post to provide a dielectric collar for the post. An exterior surface of the dielectric collar is in contact with a conductor layer. The conductor layer is disposed adjacent to the dielectric collar to provide a metal collar for the post, where a top surface of each of the conductor member, the dielectric collar and the metal collar have formed thereon a bond structure for interconnection of the metal collar and the conductor member.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a contact layer over a first major surface of a substrate. The substrate includes device regions separated by kerf regions. The contact layer is disposed in the kerf region and the device regions. A structured solder layer is formed over the device regions. The contact layer is exposed at the kerf region after forming the structured solder layer. The contact layer and the substrate in the kerf regions are diced.

Sacrificial pillars for a semiconductor device assembly, and associated methods and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a region of a semiconductor die may be identified to include sacrificial pillars that are not connected to bond pads of the semiconductor die, in addition to live conductive pillars connected to the bond pads. The region with the sacrificial pillars, when disposed in proximity to the live conductive pillars, may prevent an areal density of the live conductive pillars from experiencing an abrupt change that may result in intolerable variations in heights of the live conductive pillars. As such, the sacrificial pillars may improve a coplanarity of the live conductive pillars by reducing variations in the heights of the live conductive pillars. Thereafter, the sacrificial pillars may be removed from the semiconductor die.