Devices and techniques including process steps make use of recesses in conductive interconnect structures to form reliable low temperature metallic bonds. A fill layer is deposited into the recesses prior to bonding. First conductive interconnect structures are bonded at ambient temperatures to second metallic interconnect structures using direct bonding techniques, with the fill layers in the recesses in one or both of the first and second interconnect structures.

Connection pads are formed in interlayer films provided respectively in interconnection layers of a sensor substrate on which a sensor surface having pixels is formed and a signal processing substrate configured to perform signal processing on the sensor substrate to make an electrical connection between the sensor substrate and the signal processing substrate. Then, a metal oxide film is formed between the interlayer films of the sensor substrate and the signal processing substrate, between the connection pad formed on a side toward the sensor substrate and the interlayer film on a side toward the signal processing substrate, and between the connection pad formed on the side toward the signal processing substrate and the interlayer film on the side toward the sensor substrate. The present technology can be applied to a laminated-type CMOS image sensor, for example.

Connection pads are formed in interlayer films provided respectively in interconnection layers of a sensor substrate on which a sensor surface having pixels is formed and a signal processing substrate configured to perform signal processing on the sensor substrate to make an electrical connection between the sensor substrate and the signal processing substrate. Then, a metal oxide film is formed between the interlayer films of the sensor substrate and the signal processing substrate, between the connection pad formed on a side toward the sensor substrate and the interlayer film on a side toward the signal processing substrate, and between the connection pad formed on the side toward the signal processing substrate and the interlayer film on the side toward the sensor substrate. The present technology can be applied to a laminated-type CMOS image sensor, for example.

A bonding element and a method for manufacturing the same thereof are provide, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing a carrier substrate; forming a first metal layer on the carrier substrate; forming a first insulating layer on the first metal layer, wherein the first insulating layer includes a first through hole; forming a first passivation layer and a first conductive layer in the first through hole, wherein the first passivation layer and the first conductive layer in the first through hole form a first connecting bump; forming a first substrate on the first connection bump and the first insulating layer; removing the carrier substrate and the first metal layer to form a first sub-bonding element; and connecting the first sub-bonding element and a second sub-bonding element with a surface of the first passivation of the first connection bump to form the bonding element.

A bonding element and a method for manufacturing the same thereof are provide, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing a carrier substrate; forming a first metal layer on the carrier substrate; forming a first insulating layer on the first metal layer, wherein the first insulating layer includes a first through hole; forming a first passivation layer and a first conductive layer in the first through hole, wherein the first passivation layer and the first conductive layer in the first through hole form a first connecting bump; forming a first substrate on the first connection bump and the first insulating layer; removing the carrier substrate and the first metal layer to form a first sub-bonding element; and connecting the first sub-bonding element and a second sub-bonding element with a surface of the first passivation of the first connection bump to form the bonding element.

Embodiments of various systems, methods, and devices for gang flipping and individual picking dies are disclosed. The embodiments disclosed herein may be used, for example, in the manufacture of directly bonded devices.

A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor die including a first protection circuit. A second semiconductor die including a second protection circuit is disposed over the first semiconductor die. A portion of the first semiconductor die and second semiconductor die is removed to reduce die thickness. An interconnect structure is formed to commonly connect the first protection circuit and second protection circuit. A transient condition incident to the interconnect structure is collectively discharged through the first protection circuit and second protection circuit. Any number of semiconductor die with protection circuits can be stacked and interconnected via the interconnect structure to increase the ESD current discharge capability. The die stacking can be achieved by disposing a first semiconductor wafer over a second semiconductor wafer and then singulating the wafers. Alternatively, die-to-wafer or die-to-die assembly is used.

At least one polymer material may be employed to facilitate bonding between the semiconductor dies. Plasma treatment, formation of a blended polymer, or formation of polymer hairs may be employed to enhance bonding. Alternatively, air gaps can be formed by subsequently removing the polymer material to reduce capacitive coupling between adjacent bonding pads.

Devices and techniques including process steps make use of recesses in conductive interconnect structures to form reliable low temperature metallic bonds. A fill layer is deposited into the recesses prior to bonding. The fill layer is composed of noble metal (such as copper) and active metal (such as Zn). Then the fill metal layer is turned into a metal alloy after annealing. A dealloying is performed to the metal alloy to remove the active metal from the metal alloy while the noble metal remains to self-assemble into porous (nanoporous) structure metal. First conductive interconnect structures are bonded at ambient temperatures to second metallic interconnect structures using dielectric-to-dielectric direct bonding techniques, with the fill nanoporous metal layer in the recesses in one of the first and second interconnect structures. After the following batch annealing, the fill nanoporous metal layer turns into pure bulk metal same as conductive interconnect structures due to the heat expansion of conductive interconnect structures and nanoporous metal densification.

Connection pads are formed in interlayer films provided respectively in interconnection layers of a sensor substrate on which a sensor surface having pixels is formed and a signal processing substrate configured to perform signal processing on the sensor substrate to make an electrical connection between the sensor substrate and the signal processing substrate. Then, a metal oxide film is formed between the interlayer films of the sensor substrate and the signal processing substrate, between the connection pad formed on a side toward the sensor substrate and the interlayer film on a side toward the signal processing substrate, and between the connection pad formed on the side toward the signal processing substrate and the interlayer film on the side toward the sensor substrate. The present technology can be applied to a laminated-type CMOS image sensor, for example.