Integrated circuit devices and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. An integrated circuit device includes an interconnect structure on a substrate, a passivation layer on the interconnect structure, a plurality of conductive pads on the passivation layer and a through interconnect via (TIV). The interconnect structure includes a plurality of dielectric layers and an interconnect in the plurality of dielectric layers. The plurality of conductive pads includes a first conductive pad electrically connecting the interconnect. The through interconnect via extends through the plurality of dielectric layers and electrically connecting a first conductive layer of the interconnect.

An isolation capacitor structure reduces the likelihood of breakdown in the passivation layers by physically re-shaping or dividing the top plate of the isolation capacitor into two segments. In that way, the electric field is driven down and away from the passivation surfaces. One embodiment utilizes a series capacitor formed by the top metal plate of the capacitor and an additional “top hat” plate above the top metal plate that redirects the fields into the main isolation capacitor. Vias may be included between the top hat plate and the top metal plate. Another approach reshapes the top plate to have an integrated top hat structure and achieves similar results of directing charge down and away from the passivation layer surface breakdown paths.

A process of forming a device with a pad structure having environmental protection includes providing a semiconductor body portion, arranging a pad on the semiconductor body portion, providing at least one environment encapsulation portion at least partially on the pad, arranging a supplemental pad on the pad, and arranging the supplemental pad to include side surfaces that extend vertically above the at least one environment encapsulation portion. A device having a pad structure having environmental protection is also disclosed.

A semiconductor device includes a first chip and a second chip bonded to the first chip. The first chip includes: a substrate; a logic circuit disposed on the substrate; and a plurality of first dummy pads that are disposed above the logic circuit, are disposed on a first bonding surface where the first chip is bonded to the second chip, the plurality of first dummy pads not being electrically connected to the logic circuit. The second chip includes a plurality of second dummy pads disposed on the plurality of first dummy pads and a memory cell array provided above the plurality of second dummy pads. A coverage of the first dummy pads on the first bonding surface is different between a first region and a second region, the first region separated from a first end side of the first chip, the second region disposed between the first end side and the first region.

An integrated circuit has an isolation capacitor structure that reduces the risk of breakdown from high electric fields at the edge of the top metal plate of the capacitor. The capacitor structure includes a bottom metal plate above a substrate. A first dielectric layer of a first dielectric material is formed between the bottom metal plate and the top metal plate. The capacitor structure also includes a thin narrow ring formed of a second dielectric material located under a portion of the top metal plate. The second dielectric material has a higher dielectric constant than the first dielectric material. The thin narrow ring follows the shape of the edge of the top metal plate with a portion of the ring underneath the top metal plate and a portion outside the edge of the top metal plate to thereby be located at a place of the maximum electric field.

Semiconductor device assemblies with solderless interconnects, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device assembly includes a first conductive pillar extending from a semiconductor die and a second conductive pillar extending from a substrate. The first conductive pillar may be connected to the second conductive pillar via an intermediary conductive structure formed between the first and second conductive pillars using an electroless plating solution injected therebetween. The first and second conductive pillars and the intermediary conductive structure may include copper as a common primary component, exclusive of an intermetallic compound (IMC) of a soldering process. A first sidewall surface of the first conductive pillar may be misaligned with respect to a corresponding second sidewall surface of the second conductive pillar. Such interconnects formed without IMC may improve electrical and metallurgical characteristics of the interconnects for the semiconductor device assemblies.

A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a first conductive-type SiC semiconductor layer, and a Schottky metal, comprising molybdenum and having a thickness of 10 nm to 150 nm, that contacts the surface of the SiC semiconductor layer. The junction of the SiC semiconductor layer to the Schottky metal has a planar structure, or a structure with recesses and protrusions of equal to or less than 5 nm.

A customized seal ring for a semiconductor device is formed of multiple seal ring cells that are selected and arranged to produce a seal ring design. The cells include first cells that are coupled to ground and second cells that are not coupled to ground. The second cells that are not coupled to ground, include a higher density of metal features in an inner portion thereof, than the first seal ring cells. Dummy metal vias and other metal features that may be present in the inner portion of the second seal ring cells are absent from the inner portion of the first seal ring cells that are coupled to ground. The seal ring design may include various arrangements, including alternating and repeating sequences of the different seal ring cells.

A semiconductor apparatus includes a conductive member penetrating through a first semiconductor layer, a first insulator layer, and a third insulator layer, and connecting a first conductor layer with a second conductor layer. The conductive member has a first region containing copper, and a second region containing a material different from the copper is located at least between a first region and the first semiconductor layer, between the first region and the first insulator layer, and between the first region and the third insulator layer. A diffusion coefficient of the copper to a material is lower than a diffusion coefficient of the copper to the first semiconductor layer and a diffusion coefficient of the copper to the first insulator layer.

A method for forming a through-substrate via structure includes providing a substrate and providing a conductive via structure adjacent to a first surface of the substrate. The method includes providing a recessed region on an opposite surface of the substrate towards the conductive via structure. The method includes providing an insulator in the recessed region and providing a conductive region extending along a first sidewall surface of the recessed region in the cross-sectional view. In some examples, the first conductive region is provided to be coupled to the conductive via structure and to be further along at least a portion of the opposite surface of the substrate outside of the recessed region. The method includes providing a protective structure within the recessed region over a first portion of the first conductive region but not over a second portion of the first conductive region that is outside of the recessed region. The method includes attaching a conductive bump to the second portion of the first conductive region.