Patent ID: 9284187
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: B81C,H01L

Claim Text:
1. An integrated circuit comprising: a substrate carrying a plurality of circuit elements; a metallization stack interconnecting the circuit elements, the metallization stack including a patterned upper metallization layer having a first metal portion; a passivation stack covering the metallization stack, the passivation stack including a moisture-impenetrable layer and being configured and arranged to mitigate moisture penetration to the metallization stack and ensure operation of the circuit elements; a sensor including a sensing material on the passivation stack, the sensing material being coupled to the first metal portion by a via extending through the passivation stack; and a bond pad portion in the upper metallization layer, wherein the sensor further includes two interdigitated electrodes insulated from one another by the sensing material, the sensing material being configured and arranged to absorb moisture and to exhibit a dielectric constant that changes based upon moisture absorbed by the sensing material, the sensor being configured and arranged to detect the absorbed moisture by sensing capacitance between the two interdigitated electrodes and via the sensing material.