Patent ID: 6709965
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of forming a bond pad structure on a semiconductor substrate, comprising the steps of:forming an upper level metal interconnect structure, with said upper level metal interconnect structure communicating with active device regions in said semiconductor substrate; forming a composite insulator stack on said upper level metal interconnect structure wherein said composite insulator stack is comprised of an underlying thin silicon nitride layer, an underlying silicon oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer, and an overlying silicon oxide layer; forming a bond pad opening in said composite insulator stack exposing a portion of top surface of said upper level metal interconnect structure, with said bond pad opening featuring a laterally recessed, first opening in said overlying silicon oxide layer of said composite insulator stack, and featuring a second opening in bottom layers of said composite insulator stack, with said second opening narrower in width than said first opening in said composite insulator stack; and forming said bond pad structure in said bond pad opening, with a top surface of said bond pad structure located below a top surface of said composite insulator stack.