Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Kuan-Shou Chi

Tai-Chun Huang

Chih-Hsiang Yao

Chin-Chiu Hsia

Wen-Kai Wan

Mong-Song Liang

Ming-Ta Lei

Chih-Cherng Jeng

Ming-Shuoh Liang

An outer border, and a seal ring substantially co-extensive with and spaced from the outer border is disclosed. A plurality of fault detection chains extend from adjacent the outer border to within the seal ring. At least a first one of the plurality of fault detection chains includes a contact pad, a first metal feature coupled to the contact pad by a first via in a passivation layer, a second metal feature coupled to the first metal feature by a second via, and a substrate contact coupled to the second metal feature by a third via.

Semiconductor device fault detection system and method

A seal ring structure is disclosed for protecting a core circuit region of an integrated circuit chip. The seal ring structure includes a metallization layer, having a bridge sublevel and a plug sublevel. An upper-level bridge is formed on the bridge sublevel at a predetermined location between a peripheral edge of the integrated circuit chip and the core circuit region. A lower-level bridge is formed on the plug sublevel in substantial alignment with the upper-level bridge, wherein the lower-level bridge has a width substantially the same as that of the upper-level bridge.

Seal ring structure for integrated circuit chips

A method of forming an improved seal ring structure is described. A continuous metal seal ring is formed along a perimeter of a die wherein the metal seal ring is parallel to the edges of the die and sloped at the corner of the die so as not to have a sharp corner and wherein the metal seal ring has a first width at the corners and a second width along the edges wherein the first width is wider than the second width.

Non-repeated and non-uniform width seal ring structure

The invention provides a bonding pad structure. At least one lower circuit layer is disposed overlying the substrate, wherein the lower circuit layer is a layout of circuit under pad. A top circuit layer is disposed overlying the lower circuit layer, wherein the top circuit layer comprises a top interconnect dielectric layer and a top interconnect pattern in the top interconnect dielectric layer. A top connecting layer is disposed overlying the top circuit layer, electrically connecting the top interconnect pattern. A top pad layer is disposed overlying the top connecting layer. A bonding ball is disposed overlying the top pad layer, wherein sides of the top interconnect pattern do not overlap a region extending inwardly and outwardly from a boundary of the bonding ball within distance of about 2.5&#x3bc;m.

Semiconductor bonding pad structure

Described are methods and structures for mitigating the effects of mechanical stresses placed on the layers of semiconductor devices, and specifically disclosed are methods and structures for mitigating the diminished chemical bonds between etch-stop layers and other semiconductor device layers. The disclosed methods and structures use different structures and/or processes for some of the etch-stop layers in a device.

Multiple etch-stop layer deposition scheme and materials

A method to singulate a circuit die from an integrated circuit wafer is achieved. The method comprises providing an integrated circuit wafer containing a circuit die. The integrated circuit wafer is cut through by performing a single, continuous cut around the perimeter of the circuit die to thereby singulate the circuit die.

Growing community of inventors

Hsinchu, Taiwan

Kuan-Shou Chi