Patent ID: 6258705
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A semiconductor fabrication process for forming a circuit-probing contact point over an aluminum-based peripheral bond pad covered by a passivation layer over a flip chip, comprising the steps of:(1) forming an opening in the passivation layer to expose the aluminum-based peripheral bond pad;(2) forming a NiV/Cu metallization structure including a layer of nickel-vanadium layer deposited over the passivation layer and over the aluminum-based peripheral bond pad through the openings in the passivation layer, and a layer of copper deposited over the nickel-vanadium layer;(3) coating a photoresist layer over the NiV/Cu metallization structure;(4) performing a selective removal process on the photoresist layer in such a manner as to allow a remaining photoresist block to mask the part of the NiV/Cu metallization structure that is laid over the aluminum-based peripheral bond pad; and(5) with the remaining photoresist block serving as mask, performing an etching process by using a NiV/Cu specific etchant that can etch into nickel-vanadium and copper but not into aluminum to etch away the unmasked portions of the NiV/Cu metallization structure until exposing the passivation layer and the aluminum-based peripheral bond pad;wherein the remaining portion of the NiV/Cu metallization structure laid over the aluminum-based peripheral bond pad serves as the intended circuit-probing contact point.