Patent ID: 8922022
Filing Date: 2014-12-30
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A metal interconnect structure comprising: a lower level metal interconnect structure comprising a lower dielectric material layer and a metal line embedded therein and including a lower metallic liner and a line-level metal portion, wherein said metal line includes a hole therethrough between a first horizontal plane including a top surface of said metal line and a second horizontal plane including a bottom surface of said metal line, and a dielectric material portion, which is a portion of said lower dielectric material layer, fills said hole such that all sidewall surfaces of said dielectric material portion are in physical contact with said lower metallic liner, and said dielectric material portion has a planar top surface that is located within said first horizontal plane; and an upper level metal interconnect structure vertically abutting said lower level metal interconnect structure and comprising an upper dielectric material layer and a conductive via including an upper metallic liner and a via-level metal portion, wherein said lower metallic liner directly contacts said upper metallic liner, and said upper metallic liner directly contacts a portion of said planar top surface of said dielectric material portion.