Embodiments of wafer bonding methods are disclosed. In an example, a first plasma activation treatment based on oxygen or an inert gas is performed on a front surface of a first wafer and a front surface of a second wafer. After the first plasma activation treatment, a second plasma activation treatment based on water molecules is performed on the front surface of the first wafer and the front surface of the second wafer. After the second plasma activation treatment, the first wafer and the second wafer are bonded such that the treated front surface of the first wafer is in physical contact with the treated front surface of the second wafer.

Embodiments of wafer bonding methods are disclosed. In an example, a first plasma activation treatment based on oxygen or an inert gas is performed on a front surface of a first wafer and a front surface of a second wafer. After the first plasma activation treatment, a second plasma activation treatment based on water molecules is performed on the front surface of the first wafer and the front surface of the second wafer. After the second plasma activation treatment, the first wafer and the second wafer are bonded such that the treated front surface of the first wafer is in physical contact with the treated front surface of the second wafer.

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.

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.

Substrates that are bonding targets are bonded in ambient atmosphere via bonding films, including oxides, formed on bonding faces of the substrates. The bonding films, which are metal or semiconductor thin films formed by vacuum film deposition and at least the surfaces of which are oxidized, are formed into the respective smooth faces of two substrates having the smooth faces that serve as the bonding faces. The bonding films are exposed to a space that contains moisture, and the two substrates are overlapped in the ambient atmosphere such that the surfaces of the bonding films are made to be hydrophilic and the surfaces of the bonding films contact one another. Through this, a chemical bond is generated at the bonded interface, and thereby the two substrates are bonded together in the ambient atmosphere. The bonding strength can be improved by heating the bonded substrates at a temperature.

In an embodiment, an interposer has a first side, a first integrated circuit device attached to the first side of the interposer with a first set of conductive connectors, each of the first set of conductive connectors having a first height, a first die package attached to the first side of the interposer with a second set of conductive connectors, the second set of conductive connectors including a first conductive connector and a second conductive connector, the first conductive connector having a second height, the second conductive connector having a third height, the third height being different than the second height, a first dummy conductive connector being between the first side of the interposer and the first die package, an underfill disposed beneath the first integrated circuit device and the first die package, and an encapsulant disposed around the first integrated circuit device and the first die package.

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.

The method is carried out of a first substrate having a first layer made of a first material with a second substrate having a second layer made of a second material, the first material and the second material being of different natures and selected from alloys of elements of columns III and V, the method having the steps of: a) providing the first substrate and the second substrate, b) bringing the first substrate into contact with the second substrate so as to form a bonding interface between the first layer and the second layer, c) performing a first heat treatment at a first predefined temperature, d) thinning one of the substrates, e) depositing, at a temperature less than or equal to the first predefined temperature, a barrier layer, on the thinned substrate, and f) performing a second heat treatment at a second predefined temperature, greater than the first predefined temperature.

The method is carried out of a first substrate having a first layer made of a first material with a second substrate having a second layer made of a second material, the first material and the second material being of different natures and selected from alloys of elements of columns III and V, the method having the steps of: a) providing the first substrate and the second substrate, b) bringing the first substrate into contact with the second substrate so as to form a bonding interface between the first layer and the second layer, c) performing a first heat treatment at a first predefined temperature, d) thinning one of the substrates, e) depositing, at a temperature less than or equal to the first predefined temperature, a barrier layer, on the thinned substrate, and f) performing a second heat treatment at a second predefined temperature, greater than the first predefined temperature.

A method for producing a structure by direct bonding of two elements, the method including: production of the elements to be assembled and assembly of the elements. The production of the elements to be assembled includes: deposition on a substrate of a TiN layer by physical vapor deposition, and deposition of a copper layer on the TiN layer. The assembly of the elements includes: polishing the surfaces of the copper layers intended to come into contact so that they have a roughness of less than 1 nm RMS and hydrophilic properties, bringing the surfaces into contact, and storing the structure at atmospheric pressure and at ambient temperature.