Embodiments described herein provide techniques for forming an interconnect structure that includes a bowl shaped pad. Such embodiments can assist with improving interconnect joint reliability when compared to conventional pads that have a flat surface. An interconnect structure may comprise: a substrate (e.g., a semiconductor package, a PCB, etc.); and a metal pad over the substrate. The metal pad has a center region and an edge region. A thickness of the center region is smaller than a thickness of the edge region. A thickness of the center region may be non-uniform. The center region may have a bowl shape characterized by a stepped profile. The stepped profile is formed from metal layers arranged as steps. Alternatively, or additionally, the center region may have a bowl shape characterized by a curved profile. A pattern may be formed on or in a surface of the metal pad.

Wafer processing techniques, or methods for forming semiconductor rides, are disclosed for fabricating plated pillar dies having die-level electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield layers. In embodiments, the method includes depositing a metallic seed layer over a semiconductor wafer and contacting die pads thereon. An electroplating process is then performed to compile plated pillars on the metallic seed layer and across the semiconductor wafer. Following electroplating, selected regions of the metallic seed layer are removed to produce electrical isolation gaps around a first pillar type, while leaving intact portions of the metallic seed layer to yield a wafer-level EMI shield layer. The semiconductor wafer is separated into singulated plated pillar dies, each including a die-level EMI shield layer and plated pillars of the first pillar type electrically isolated from the EMI shield layer.

Implementations of a semiconductor package may include a die; a first pad and a second pad, the first pad and the second pad each including a first layer and a second layer where the second layer may be thicker than the first layer. At least a first conductor may be directly coupled to the second layer of the first pad; at least a second conductor may be directly coupled to the second layer of the second pad; and an organic material may cover at least the first side of the die. The at least first conductor and the at least second conductor extend through openings in the organic material where a spacing between the at least first conductor and the at least second conductor may be wider than a spacing between the second layer of the first pad and the second layer of the second pad.

Implementations of a semiconductor package may include a die; a first pad and a second pad, the first pad and the second pad each including a first layer and a second layer where the second layer may be thicker than the first layer. At least a first conductor may be directly coupled to the second layer of the first pad; at least a second conductor may be directly coupled to the second layer of the second pad; and an organic material may cover at least the first side of the die. The at least first conductor and the at least second conductor extend through openings in the organic material where a spacing between the at least first conductor and the at least second conductor may be wider than a spacing between the second layer of the first pad and the second layer of the second pad.

A manufacturing method of a semiconductor package includes locating, on a substrate, a semiconductor device having an external terminal provided on a top surface thereof, forming a resin insulating layer covering the semiconductor device, forming an opening, exposing the external terminal, in the resin insulating layer, performing plasma treatment on a bottom surface of the opening, performing chemical treatment on the bottom surface of the opening after the plasma treatment, and forming a conductive body to be connected with the external terminal exposed in the opening.

A method of selectively locating a barrier layer on a substrate includes forming a barrier layer on a surface of the substrate. The barrier layer comprises of a metal element and a non-metal element. The barrier layer may also be formed from a metal element and non-metal element. The method further includes forming an electrically conductive film layer on the barrier layer, and forming a metallic portion in the electrically conductive film layer. The method further includes selectively ablating portions of the barrier layer from the dielectric layer to selectively locate place the barrier layer on the substrate.

A method of selectively locating a barrier layer on a substrate includes forming a barrier layer on a surface of the substrate. The barrier layer comprises of a metal element and a non-metal element. The barrier layer may also be formed from a metal element and non-metal element. The method further includes forming an electrically conductive film layer on the barrier layer, and forming a metallic portion in the electrically conductive film layer. The method further includes selectively ablating portions of the barrier layer from the dielectric layer to selectively locate place the barrier layer on the substrate.

A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes: forming a conductive layer on a first insulating layer; etching a portion of the conductive layer to expose a portion of the first insulating layer; deforming a surface of the portion of the first insulating layer to form a rough surface of the first insulating layer; and removing a residue of the conductive layer on the rough surface of the first insulating layer.

In described examples of an integrated circuit (IC) there is a substrate of semiconductor material having a first region with a first transistor formed therein and a second region with a second transistor formed therein. An isolation trench extends through the substrate and separates the first region of the substrate from the second region of the substrate. An interconnect region having layers of dielectric is disposed on a top surface of the substrate. A dielectric polymer is disposed in the isolation trench and in a layer over the backside surface of the substrate. An edge of the polymer layer is separated from the perimeter edge of the substrate by a space.

The present disclosure discloses a semiconductor structure having an insulating layer disposed on a wafer active surface of a semiconductor wafer for covering the wafer active surface. The insulating layer may be a protective layer in some embodiments and a cover layer in other embodiments. The insulating layer has via openings to expose contact pads for leading out electrical connections. In particular, the via openings are formed by a multi-step etching process (such as a two-step etching process) without damaging the contact pads. The two-step etching process includes a first laser etching process using normal pulse (P) and normal energy to form partial via openings in the cover layer. The second etching process includes either a laser etching process using low P and low E or a plasma etching process. The second etching process avoids damaging the contact pads.