Patent ID: 11929281
Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
Field: Semiconductors (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H | IPC H

Claim 17:
18. A method comprising:
forming a first dielectric layer;
forming a first conductive feature in the first dielectric layer;
forming a second conductive feature over and electrically coupling to the first conductive feature, wherein the second conductive feature comprises:
a diffusion barrier; and
a metallic material encircled by the diffusion barrier;

forming a protection ring encircling and contacting the second conductive feature, wherein the protection ring contacts a top surface of at least one of the first dielectric layer and the first conductive feature; and
forming an air spacer encircling the protection ring, wherein the air spacer separates the protection ring from a second dielectric layer that encircles the air spacer.