A semiconductor device includes a first conductive element, a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer sequentially disposed on the first conductive element, a conductive via passing through the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. The conductive via is connected to the first conductive element. The semiconductor device includes a via extension portion disposed in the second insulating layer that extends along an upper surface of the first insulating layer from one side surface of the conductive via, and a second conductive element disposed on the second insulating layer that is connected to the via extension portion.

A method of forming a device that includes encapsulating a magnetic resistive access memory (MRAM) stack with a first patternable low-k dielectric material that is patterned by a exposure to produce a via pattern that extends to circuitry to logic devices. The via pattern is developed forming a via opening. The method further includes forming a second patternable low-k dielectric material over first patternable low-k dielectric material and filling the via opening. The second patternable low-k dielectric material is patterned by a light exposure to produce a first line pattern to the MRAM stack and a second line pattern to the via opening. The first line pattern and the second line pattern are developed to form trench openings. Thereafter, electrically conductive material is formed in the trench openings and the via opening.

A method and structure for forming a local interconnect, without routing the local interconnect through an overlying metal layer. In various embodiments, a first dielectric layer is formed over a gate stack of at least one device and a second dielectric layer is formed over a contact metal layer of the at least one device. In various embodiments, a selective etching process is performed to remove the second dielectric layer and expose the contact metal layer, without substantial removal of the first dielectric layer. In some examples, a metal VIA layer is deposited over the at least one device. The metal VIA layer contacts the contact metal layer and provides a local interconnect structure. In some embodiments, a multi-level interconnect network overlying the local interconnect structure is formed.

A system and method for providing a conductive line is provided. In an embodiment the conductive line is formed by forming two passivation layers, wherein each passivation layer is independently patterned. Once formed, a seed layer is deposited into the two passivation layers, and a conductive material is deposited to fill and overfill the patterns within the two passivation layers. A planarization process such as a chemical mechanical polish may then be utilized in order to remove excess conductive material and form the conductive lines within the two passivation layers.

An interconnect layer is disposed over a substrate. The interconnect layer includes a plurality of dielectric segments interleaved with a plurality of metal components. A plurality of vias is disposed below, and electrically coupled to, a first group of the metal components. A plurality of dielectric components is disposed underneath a second group of the metal components. The dielectric components interleave with the vias. A conductive liner is disposed below a bottom surface and on sidewalk of the vias. A dielectric barrier layer is disposed below a bottom surface and on sidewalls of the dielectric segments. The dielectric barrier layer and the dielectric segments have different material compositions.

A method of protecting a dielectric during fabrication is provided. A conductive layer is patterned to form a first conductive shape on a first portion of a dielectric layer and a second conductive shape on a second portion of the dielectric layer. A conductive trace is formed over at least a portion of the second conductive shape. The conductive trace electrically connects the first conductive shape with a substrate tie. An interconnect layer is coupled to the first conductive shape. The conductive trace is etched to electrically isolate the first conductive shape from the substrate tie.

A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a dielectric spacer along sidewalls of a plurality of interconnect openings extending through a sacrificial dielectric layer and a first dielectric layer until a top portion of a first conductive material, the dielectric spacer includes a dielectric material having a dielectric constant higher than a dielectric constant of the sacrificial dielectric layer and higher than a dielectric constant of the first dielectric layer, conformally depositing a barrier liner within the plurality of interconnect openings above and in direct contact with the dielectric spacer, filling the interconnect openings with a second conductive material, removing the sacrificial dielectric layer to expose portions of the dielectric spacer above the first dielectric layer, and reducing a thickness of exposed portions of the dielectric spacer.

A semiconductor device includes a first conductive element, a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer sequentially disposed on the first conductive element, a conductive via passing through the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. The conductive via is connected to the first conductive element. The semiconductor device includes a via extension portion disposed in the second insulating layer that extends along an upper surface of the first insulating layer from one side surface of the conductive via, and a second conductive element disposed on the second insulating layer that is connected to the via extension portion.

A semiconductor device includes a first conductive element, a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer sequentially disposed on the first conductive element, a conductive via passing through the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. The conductive via is connected to the first conductive element. The semiconductor device includes a via extension portion disposed in the second insulating layer that extends along an upper surface of the first insulating layer from one side surface of the conductive via, and a second conductive element disposed on the second insulating layer that is connected to the via extension portion.

A structure and method for forming a self-aligned metal wire on a contact structure. The method for forming the self-aligned metal wire and contact structure may include, among other things, forming an initial contact structure above a substrate; forming a patterned mask on the initial contact structure, the mask including an opening; using the patterned mask to form an opening through the initial contact structure; forming a dielectric layer in the openings; removing the patterned mask to expose a remaining portion of the initial contact structure; and forming the metal wire on the remaining portion of the initial contact structure. The contact structure may include a vertical cross-sectional geometry including one of a trapezoid wherein a bottommost surface of the first contact structure is wider than an uppermost surface of the first contact structure, and a parallelogram. The metal wire may completely contact an uppermost surface of the contact structure.