Patent ID: 9659856
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: H01L

Claim:
1. An integrated circuit structure comprising: a first conductive line; a dielectric layer over the first conductive line; a diffusion barrier layer in the dielectric layer, the diffusion barrier layer comprising a first vertical portion, a horizontal portion connected at a first end to the first vertical portion, and a second vertical portion connected to the horizontal portion at a second end opposite the first end; a second conductive line in the dielectric layer; a via positioned between a bottom end of the second conductive line and an upper end of the first conductive line, the via electrically coupling the second conductive line to the first conductive line, a lower portion of the via being free of the diffusion barrier layer; and a dielectric barrier layer encircling the lower portion of the via, a top end of the dielectric barrier layer being joined to a bottom end of the second vertical portion of the diffusion barrier layer.