A method of forming a conductive material on a semiconductor device. The method comprises removing at least a portion of a conductive pad within an aperture in a dielectric material over a substrate. The method further comprises forming a seed material at least within a bottom of the aperture and over the dielectric material, forming a protective material over the seed material within the aperture, and forming a conductive pillar in contact with the seed material through an opening in the protective material over surfaces of the seed material within the aperture. A method of forming an electrical connection between adjacent semiconductor devices, and a semiconductor device, are also described.

In a semiconductor device, an element forming region formed with a semiconductor element for controlling a current is defined on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. A termination region is defined so as to surround the element forming region. In a gate electrode, a probe-contacting region and a wire region are defined. The probe-contacting region and the wire region are separated by an insulator formed on a surface of the gate electrode. Thus, the surface of the probe-contacting region and the surface of the wire region are located at the same height.

Provided is a three dimensional integrated circuit structure including a first die, a through substrate via and a connector. The first die is bonded to a second die with a first dielectric layer of the first die and a second dielectric layer of the second die, wherein a first passivation layer is between the first dielectric layer and a first substrate of the first die, and a first test pad is embedded in the first passivation layer. The through substrate via penetrates through the first die and is electrically connected to the second die. The connector is electrically connected to the first die and the second die through the through substrate via.

Provided is a three dimensional integrated circuit structure including a first die, a through substrate via and a connector. The first die is bonded to a second die with a first dielectric layer of the first die and a second dielectric layer of the second die, wherein a first passivation layer is between the first dielectric layer and a first substrate of the first die, and a first test pad is embedded in the first passivation layer. The through substrate via penetrates through the first die and is electrically connected to the second die. The connector is electrically connected to the first die and the second die through the through substrate via.

A semiconductor device including a test pad contact and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a semiconductor device may include a first metal feature and a second metal feature disposed in a single top metal layer over a substrate. A test pad may be formed over and electrically connected to the first metal feature. A first passivation layer may be formed over the second metal feature and the test pad and may cover top and side surfaces of the test pad. A first via may be formed penetrating the first passivation layer and contacting the test pad and a second via may be formed penetrating the first passivation layer and contacting the second metal feature.

Mitigating surface damage of probe pads in preparation for direct bonding of a substrate is provided. Methods and layer structures prepare a semiconductor substrate for direct bonding processes by restoring a flat direct-bonding surface after disruption of probe pad surfaces during test probing. An example method fills a sequence of metals and oxides over the disrupted probe pad surfaces and builds out a dielectric surface and interconnects for hybrid bonding. The interconnects may be connected to the probe pads, and/or to other electrical contacts of the substrate. A layer structure is described for increasing the yield and reliability of the resulting direct bonding process. Another example process builds the probe pads on a next-to-last metallization layer and then applies a direct bonding dielectric layer and damascene process without increasing the count of mask layers. Another example process and related layer structure recesses the probe pads to a lower metallization layer and allows recess cavities over the probe pads.