Patent ID: 6057180
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of severing an electrically conductive link fabricated on a semiconductor substrate in an integrated circuit link structure that includes a top surface and an inorganic dielectric passivation layer positioned between the link and the substrate, the link having a link width and the passivation layer having a height and wavelength-sensitive light absorption characteristics, comprising:generating and directing toward the link structure ultraviolet laser output having, at a predetermined wavelength, energy characterized by a power density distributed over a spot area on the top surface of the link structure, the spot area having a diameter of less than about 2.0 .mu.m and covering the link width and an adjacent portion of the passivation layer not overlapped by the link, the power density being of sufficient magnitude to sever the link and in cooperation with the predetermined wavelength interacting with the passivation layer such that its wavelength-sensitive light absorption characteristics and height cause the adjacent portion of the passivation layer not overlapped by the link to attenuate off-link energy of the laser output incident to the adjacent portion during severing of the link to prevent the laser output from damaging the substrate.