Various embodiments provide a semiconductor device, including a final metal layer having a top side and at least one sidewall; and a passivation layer disposed over at least part of at least one of the top side and the at least one sidewall of the final metal layer; wherein the passivation layer has a substantially uniform thickness.

Wafers and methods of forming solder balls include etching a hole in a final redistribution layer over a terminal contact pad on a wafer to expose the terminal contact pad. Solder is injected into the hole using an injection nozzle that is in direct contact with the final redistribution layer. The final redistribution layer is etched back. The injected solder is reflowed to form a solder ball.

A packaging method and a package for an image sensing chip are provided. The packaging method includes: providing a wafer including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, where the wafer has multiple image sensing chips arranged in a grid, each of the image sensing chips has an image sensing region and contact pads arranged on a side of the first surface; forming an opening corresponding to each of the contact pads and cutting trenches on a side of the second surface of the wafer, where the contact pad is exposed through the opening; filling the cutting trenches with a first photosensitive ink; and applying a second photosensitive ink on the second surface of the wafer to cover the opening with the second photosensitive ink and form a hollow cavity in the opening.

A microelectronic device is formed by providing a substrate having a recess at a top surface, and a liner layer formed over the top surface of the substrate, extending into the recess. A protective layer is formed over the liner layer, extending into the recess. A CMP process removes the protective layer and the liner layer from over the top surface of the substrate, leaving the protective layer and the liner layer in the recess. The protective layer is subsequently removed from the recess, leaving the liner layer in the recess. The substrate may include an interconnect region with a bond pad and a PO layer having an opening which forms the recess; the bond pad is exposed in the recess. The liner layer in the recess may be a metal liner suitable for a subsequently-formed wire bond or bump bond.

A semiconductor element having an interconnect bonding layer with a contact pad and a plasma damage-free low-k dielectric material is disclosed. The contact pad connects an underlying conductive feature through an intervening via. A thin dielectric layer is disposed on and covering the entire sidewalls of the contact pad, the intervening via and the underlying conductive feature, and making an approximately right angle turn to extend along an interface between the low-k dielectric material and a first dielectric layer that at least partially bury the underlying contact feature.

Wafers include multiple bulk redistribution layers. A contact pad is formed on a surface of one of the bulk redistribution layers. A final redistribution layer is formed on the surface and in contact with the contact pad. Solder is formed on the contact pad. The solder includes a pedestal portion formed to a same height as the final redistribution layer and a ball portion above the pedestal portion.

A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a laminate which is formed on one main surface side of the substrate, and includes an aluminum alloy wiring and an insulating film surrounding the aluminum alloy wiring; and a silicon nitride film covering the laminate, in which the silicon nitride film and the insulating film have an opening portion, through which the silicon nitride film and the insulating film, formed at a position overlapped with a bonding portion of the aluminum alloy wiring, and a deposition made of a residue caused by reverse sputtering, which contains silicon and nitrogen, adheres to a portion exposed from the opening portion of a surface of the aluminum alloy wiring, to form a film.

A conductive feature on a semiconductor component is disclosed. A first passivation layer is formed over a substrate. A bond pad is formed over the first passivation layer. A second passivation layer overlies the first passivation layer and the bond pad. The second passivation layer has a first opening overlying the bond pad and a plurality of second openings exposing a top surface of the first passivation layer. A buffer layer overlies the second passivation layer and fills the plurality of second openings. The buffer layer has a third opening overlapping the first opening and together exposes a portion the bond pad. The combined first opening and third opening has sidewalls. An under bump metallurgy (UBM) layer overlies the sidewalls of the combined first opening and third opening, and contacts the exposed portion of the bond pad. A conductive feature overlies the UBM layer.

A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes forming a conductive structure over a first passivation layer, depositing a first dielectric film continuously over the conductive structure, depositing a second dielectric film continuously over the first dielectric film, and depositing a third dielectric film over the second dielectric film. A portion of the third dielectric film is in contact with a portion of the first dielectric film.

Packaging devices and methods of manufacture thereof for semiconductor devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a packaging device includes a contact pad disposed over a substrate, and a passivation layer disposed over the substrate and a first portion of the contact pad. A post passivation interconnect (PPI) line is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled to a second portion of the contact pad. A PPI pad is disposed over the passivation layer. A transition element is disposed over the passivation layer and is coupled between the PPI line and the PPI pad. The transition element comprises a first side and a second side coupled to the first side. The first side and the second side of the transition element are non-tangential to the PPI pad.