Patent ID: 9330974
Filing Date: 2016-05-03
CPC Classification: H01L

Claim Text:
1. A semiconductor device comprising: a first metal line disposed in a first metal level above a substrate; a second metal line disposed in a second metal level disposed over the first metal level, the second metal line separated from the first metal line by a first via level; a third metal line disposed in a third metal level disposed over the second metal level, the third metal line separated from the second metal line by a second via level, wherein the second via level is separated from the first via level by the second metal level, wherein the first metal level, the second metal level, the third metal level, the first via level, and the second via level are at different vertical levels from the substrate in a semiconductor device comprising three metal level and two via levels over the substrate; and a single continuous through level via contacting the first metal line and the third metal line, wherein the through level via has a first surface contacting the first metal line and a second surface contacting the third metal line, wherein the first surface is below the second metal line, wherein the second surface is above the second metal line, and wherein the first and the second surfaces are parallel to a major surface of the substrate, wherein the through level via extends completely through the first via level to the first metal line and further extends completely through the second via level to the third metal line, wherein the single continuous through level via comprises a first portion of a metal liner, wherein the third metal line comprises a second portion of the metal liner, wherein the first portion and the second portion are part of the same continuous metal liner, wherein the first portion of the metal liner surrounds sidewalls of the through level via in the first via level and the second via level and is disposed at the first surface contacting the first metal line, the second portion of the metal liner surrounds sidewalls of the third metal line.