A method includes forming a first substrate including a first dielectric layer and a first metal pad, forming a second substrate including a second dielectric layer and a second metal pad, and bonding the first dielectric layer to the second dielectric layer, and the first metal pad to the second metal pad. One or both of the first and second substrates is formed by forming a first insulating layer, forming an opening in the layer, forming a barrier on an inner surface of the opening, forming a metal pad material on the barrier, polishing the metal pad material to expose a portion of the barrier and to form a gap, expanding the gap, forming a second insulating layer to fill the opening and the gap, and polishing the insulating layers such that a top surface of the metal pad is substantially planar with an upper surface of the polished layer.

An integrated circuit (IC) comprising an enhanced passivation scheme for pad openings and trenches is provided. In some embodiments, an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer covers a substrate and at least partially defines a trench. The trench extends through the ILD layer from a top of the ILD layer to the substrate. A conductive pad overlies the ILD layer. A first passivation layer overlies the ILD layer and the conductive pad, and further defines a pad opening overlying the conductive pad. A second passivation layer overlies the ILD layer, the conductive pad, and the first passivation layer, and further lines sidewalls of the first passivation layer in the pad opening and sidewalls of the ILD layer in the trench. Further, the second passivation layer has a low permeability for moisture or vapor relative to the ILD layer.

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.

A wiring board includes: an insulating layer; and a connection terminal formed on the insulating layer. The connection terminal includes a first metal layer laminated on the insulating layer, a second metal layer laminated on the first metal layer, a metal pad laminated on the second metal layer, and a surface treatment layer that covers an upper surface and a side surface of the pad and that is in contact with the upper surface of the insulating layer. An end portion of the second metal layer is in contact with the surface treatment layer, and an end portion of the first metal layer is positioned closer to a center side of the pad than the end portion of the second metal layer is to form a gap between the end portion of the first metal layer and the surface treatment layer.

The present application discloses a semiconductor device with stacked dies and the method for fabricating the semiconductor device with the stacked dies. The semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor die including a first substrate including a first and a second region, a first circuit layer on the first substrate, a control circuit on the first region and in the first circuit layer; and through die vias along the first circuit layer and the second region; a second semiconductor die stacked on the first semiconductor die and including second conductive pads connected to the through die vias and the control circuit; and a third semiconductor die stacked under the first semiconductor die and including third conductive pads connected to the through die vias and the control circuit. The through die vias, the second conductive pads, and the third conductive pads configure transmission channels through which the control circuit is capable to access the second and the third semiconductor die.

In some embodiments, an integrated chip (IC) is provided. The IC includes a metallization structure disposed over a semiconductor substrate, where the metallization structure includes an interconnect structure disposed in an interlayer dielectric (ILD) structure. A passivation layer is disposed over the metallization structure, where an upper surface of the interconnect structure is at least partially disposed between opposite inner sidewalls of the passivation layer. A sidewall spacer is disposed along the opposite inner sidewalls of the passivation layer, where the sidewall spacer has rounded sidewalls. A conductive structure is disposed on the passivation layer, the rounded sidewalls of the sidewall spacer, and the upper surface of the interconnect structure.

A method includes forming a first substrate including a first dielectric layer and a first metal pad, forming a second substrate including a second dielectric layer and a second metal pad, and bonding the first dielectric layer to the second dielectric layer, and the first metal pad to the second metal pad. One or both of the first and second substrates is formed by forming a first insulating layer, forming an opening in the layer, forming a barrier on an inner surface of the opening, forming a metal pad material on the barrier, polishing the metal pad material to expose a portion of the barrier and to form a gap, expanding the gap, forming a second insulating layer to fill the opening and the gap, and polishing the insulating layers such that a top surface of the metal pad is substantially planar with an upper surface of the polished layer.

The present application provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device including providing a first semiconductor die including a first substrate including a first substrate including a first region and a second region, a plurality of first through substrate vias in the first region, a first circuit layer on the first substrate, and a control circuit on the first region and in the first circuit layer; forming a plurality of through die vias vertically along the first circuit layer and the second region; providing a second semiconductor die including a plurality of second conductive pads substantially coplanar with a top surface of the second semiconductor die; providing a third semiconductor die including a plurality of third conductive pads substantially coplanar with a top surface of the third semiconductor die; flipping the second semiconductor die and bonding the second semiconductor die onto the first circuit layer.

In some examples, a package comprises a semiconductor die and a bond pad formed upon the semiconductor die. The bond pad has a protrusion on a top surface of the bond pad. The package also comprises a metal contact and a bond wire coupled to the protrusion and to the metal contact.