A bond pad with micro-protrusions for direct metallic bonding. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a through-silicon via (TSV) extending through the semiconductor substrate, and a copper pad electrically connected to the TSV and having a coupling side. The semiconductor device further includes a copper element that projects away from the coupling side of the copper pad. In another embodiment, a bonded semiconductor assembly comprises a first semiconductor substrate with a first TSV and a first copper pad electrically coupled to the first TSV, wherein the first copper pad has a first coupling side. The bonded semiconductor assembly further comprises a second semiconductor substrate, opposite to the first semiconductor substrate, the second semiconductor substrate comprising a second copper pad having a second coupling side. A plurality of copper connecting elements extend between the first and second coupling sides of the first and second copper pads.

A bond pad with micro-protrusions for direct metallic bonding. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a through-silicon via (TSV) extending through the semiconductor substrate, and a copper pad electrically connected to the TSV and having a coupling side. The semiconductor device further includes a copper element that projects away from the coupling side of the copper pad. In another embodiment, a bonded semiconductor assembly comprises a first semiconductor substrate with a first TSV and a first copper pad electrically coupled to the first TSV, wherein the first copper pad has a first coupling side. The bonded semiconductor assembly further comprises a second semiconductor substrate, opposite to the first semiconductor substrate, the second semiconductor substrate comprising a second copper pad having a second coupling side. A plurality of copper connecting elements extend between the first and second coupling sides of the first and second copper pads.

A semiconductor device has a first substrate. A first semiconductor component is disposed on a first surface of the first substrate. A second substrate includes a vertical interconnect structure on a first surface of the second substrate. A second semiconductor component is disposed on the first surface of the second substrate. The first semiconductor component or second semiconductor component is a semiconductor package. The first substrate is disposed over the second substrate with the first semiconductor component and second semiconductor component between the first substrate and second substrate. A first encapsulant is deposited between the first substrate and second substrate. A SiP submodule is disposed over the first substrate or second substrate opposite the encapsulant. A shielding layer is formed over the SiP submodule.

A semiconductor device has a first substrate. A first semiconductor component is disposed on a first surface of the first substrate. A second substrate includes a vertical interconnect structure on a first surface of the second substrate. A second semiconductor component is disposed on the first surface of the second substrate. The first semiconductor component or second semiconductor component is a semiconductor package. The first substrate is disposed over the second substrate with the first semiconductor component and second semiconductor component between the first substrate and second substrate. A first encapsulant is deposited between the first substrate and second substrate. A SiP submodule is disposed over the first substrate or second substrate opposite the encapsulant. A shielding layer is formed over the SiP submodule.

To improve reliability of a semiconductor device, in a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, a semiconductor substrate having an insulating film in which an opening that exposes each of a plurality of electrode pads is formed is provided, and a flux member including conductive particles is arranged over each of the electrode pads. Thereafter, a solder ball is arranged over each of the electrode pads via the flux member, and is then heated via the flux member so that the solder ball is bonded to each of the electrode pads. The width of the opening of the insulating film is smaller than the width (diameter) of the solder ball.

A semiconductor device is provided that includes a bond pad, an insulating layer, and a bonding structure. The bond pad is in a dielectric layer and the insulating layer is over the bond pad; the insulating layer having an opening over the bond pad formed therein. The bonding structure electrically couples the bond pad in the opening. The bonding structure has a height that at least extends to an upper surface of the insulating layer.

An integrated circuit (IC) chip includes a copper structure with an intermetallic coating on the surface. The IC chip includes a substrate with an integrated circuit. A metal pad electrically connects to the integrated circuit. The copper structure electrically connects to the metal pad. A solder bump is disposed on the copper structure. The surface of the copper structure has a coating of intermetallic. The copper structure can be a redistribution layer and a copper pillar that is disposed on the redistribution layer.

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.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for the application of strain inducing layers to enhance the mobility of transistors formed on semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structures. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit is disclosed. In a first step, active circuitry is formed in an active layer of a SOI wafer. In a second step, substrate material is removed from a substrate layer disposed on a back side of the SOI wafer. In a third step, insulator material is removed from the back side of the SOI wafer to form an excavated insulator region. In a fourth step, a strain inducing material is deposited on the excavated insulator region. The strain inducing material interacts with the pattern of excavated insulator such that a single layer provides both tensile and compressive stress to p-channel and n-channel transistors, respectively. In alternative embodiments, the entire substrate is removed before forming the strain inducing material.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for the application of strain inducing layers to enhance the mobility of transistors formed on semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structures. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit is disclosed. In a first step, active circuitry is formed in an active layer of a SOI wafer. In a second step, substrate material is removed from a substrate layer disposed on a back side of the SOI wafer. In a third step, insulator material is removed from the back side of the SOI wafer to form an excavated insulator region. In a fourth step, a strain inducing material is deposited on the excavated insulator region. The strain inducing material interacts with the pattern of excavated insulator such that a single layer provides both tensile and compressive stress to p-channel and n-channel transistors, respectively. In alternative embodiments, the entire substrate is removed before forming the strain inducing material.