A method includes forming a first dielectric layer over a conductive pad, forming a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer, and etching the second dielectric layer to form a first opening, with a top surface of the first dielectric layer exposed to the first opening. A template layer is formed to fill the first opening. A second opening is then formed in the template layer and the first dielectric layer, with a top surface of the conductive pad exposed to the second opening. A conductive pillar is formed in the second opening.

A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor substrate, a conductive pad on the semiconductor substrate, a redistribution line conductor, a coating insulator, and an aluminum oxide layer. The redistribution line conductor is electrically connected to the conductive pad. The coating insulator covers the redistribution line conductor and partially exposes the redistribution line conductor. The aluminum oxide layer is provided below the coating insulator and extends along a top surface of the redistribution line conductor, and the aluminum oxide layer is in contact with the redistribution line conductor.

A method of forming a redistribution structure includes providing a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is patterned to form a plurality of via openings. A seed layer is formed on the dielectric layer and filling in the plurality of via openings. A patterned conductive layer is formed a on the seed layer, wherein a portion of the seed layer is exposed by the patterned conductive layer. The portion of the seed layer is removed by using an etching solution, thereby forming a plurality of conductive lines and a plurality of vias. During the removing the portion of the seed layer, an etch rate of the patterned conductive layer is less than an etch rate of the seed layer.

A semiconductor device includes a chip body; a passivation layer on the chip body; a lower dielectric layer on the passivation layer; a first re-distribution pad on the lower dielectric layer; an upper dielectric layer on the lower dielectric layer, the upper dielectric layer having a groove that exposes an upper surface of the first re-distribution pad; and a second re-distribution pad on the upper dielectric layer. An upper surface of the second re-distribution pad is positioned at a higher level than the upper surface of the first re-distribution pad.

A method includes encapsulating a device in an encapsulating material, planarizing the encapsulating material and the device, and forming a conductive feature over the encapsulating material and the device. The formation of the conductive feature includes depositing a first conductive material to from a first seed layer, depositing a second conductive material different from the first conductive material over the first seed layer to form a second seed layer, plating a metal region over the second seed layer, performing a first etching on the second seed layer, performing a second etching on the first seed layer, and after the first seed layer is etched, performing a third etching on the second seed layer and the metal region.

The present disclosure provides an integrated circuit (IC) structure. The IC structure includes a semiconductor substrate; an interconnection structure formed on the semiconductor substrate; and a redistribution layer (RDL) metallic feature formed on the interconnection structure. The RDL metallic feature further includes a barrier layer disposed on the interconnection structure; a diffusion layer disposed on the barrier layer, wherein the diffusion layer includes metal and oxygen; and a metallic layer disposed on the diffusion layer.

A method includes forming a seed layer on a semiconductor wafer, coating a photo resist on the seed layer, performing a photo lithography process to expose the photo resist, and developing the photo resist to form an opening in the photo resist. The seed layer is exposed, and the opening includes a first opening of a metal pad and a second opening of a metal line connected to the first opening. At a joining point of the first opening and the second opening, a third opening of a metal patch is formed, so that all angles of the opening and adjacent to the first opening are greater than 90 degrees. The method further includes plating the metal pad, the metal line, and the metal patch in the opening in the photo resist, removing the photo resist, and etching the seed layer to leave the metal pad, the metal line and the metal patch.

A semiconductor die (“die”) employing repurposed seed layer for forming additional signal paths to a back end-of-line (BEOL) structure of the die, and related integrated circuit (IC) packages and fabrication methods. A seed layer is repurposed that was disposed adjacent the BEOL interconnect structure to couple an under bump metallization (UBM) interconnect without a coupled interconnect bump thus forming an unraised interconnect bump, to a UBM interconnect that has a raised interconnect bump. To couple the unraised interconnect bump to the raised interconnect bump, the seed layer is selectively removed during fabrication to leave a portion of the seed layer repurposed that couples the UBM interconnect that does not have an interconnect bump to the UBM interconnect that has a raised interconnect bump. Additional routing paths can be provided between raised interconnect bumps to the BEOL interconnect structure through coupling of UBM interconnects to an unraised interconnect bump.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an insulating layer on a bottom surface of the substrate, a portion of a top surface of the insulating layer that faces the substrate being exposed outside a side surface of the substrate, a through via penetrating the substrate, an interconnection structure in the insulating layer, and a dummy pattern on the portion of the top surface of the insulating layer that is exposed by the substrate.

A module includes a substrate, metal layers and insulating layers laminated on the substrate, a bottom winding made of a metal directly contacting a first metal layer or a second metal layer, a first insulating layer on the bottom winding, a core on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer on the core, a top winding made of the metal that is located on the core and a portion of the second insulating layer and that directly contacts the first metal layer or the second metal layer, and a third insulating layer on the top winding, electronic components that are located on the third insulating layer, where primary and secondary windings of the transformer are defined by portions of the bottom winding and the top winding and are located on opposite sides of the core from each other.