Abstract:
An integrated circuit comprises a semiconductor body with a metal path running at least partially on the component side surface of the semiconductor body itself. 
     The invention also includes the method of making the arrangement.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 763,690, filed Jan. 28, 1977, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In integrated circuits, as is known, there is the danger that undesirable parasitic effects may occur and that the individual elements of the integrated circuit may not be sufficiently electrically separated from each other. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide an integrated circuit in which parasitic effects are prevented or reduced and in which the electrical separation of the elements, also named components, can be improved. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an integrated circuit comprising a semiconductor body, an assembly side of said semiconductor from which the elements of the integrated circuit were formed in said semiconductor body and a metal path on said component side of said semiconductor body and extending at least partially in contact with said semiconductor body itself. 
     Further according to this aspect of the invention, there is provided an integrated circuit characterized in that a metal path is present on the main surface of the semiconductor body on the component side, and runs at least partially along the semiconductor body. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of producing an integrated circuit comprising the steps of forming a scribing recess in an insulating layer provided on the component side of a semiconductor body from which the elements of the circuit were formed in said semiconductor body introducing a metal path into said scribing recess and thereafter scribing said semiconductor body through said metal path. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a prior art form; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a third embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of part of a semiconductor wafer prior to scribing, and 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the introduction of a metal path thereto in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is proposed to provide an integrated circuit with a metal path provided on the main surface of the semiconductor body on the component side, the metal path running at least partially on the semiconductor body. 
     As is known, a semiconductor body for an integrated circuit is disc-shaped. 
     As is also known, this type of semiconductor body is very thin in comparison to its surface area. For this reason one talks of two large-surface main surfaces on the upper and lower side and of relatively narrow edge surfaces at the edge of the semiconductor body. As is known, the elements of an integrated circuit are introduced into the semiconductor body from one side or from one main surface; this takes place today by means of diffusion or by means of ion implantation. Thus by main surface on the component side is meant that main surface from which the elements or components are introduced into the semiconductor body. 
     With the metal path provided according to the invention, the part running on the semiconductor body is longer than that part which does not run on the semiconductor body and runs, for example, on the insulating layer. If mention is made here of the fact that the metal path runs on the semiconductor body, then the essential fact to be understood is that the metal path is applied directly to the semiconductor body; however, a solder may be provided between the metal path and the semiconductor body for the purpose of better adhesion, but the metal path is generally applied directly to the semiconductor body, for example by means of vapour deposition. 
     The metal path preferably runs on the semiconductor body over its entire length or at least over a substantial part of its length. The metal path runs preferably at the edge of the main surface of the semiconductor body. The effect of the invention is greater the longer the metal is, i.e. metal paths are preferably present not only along one edge of the main surface but along two, three or even four edges of the main surface. The metal paths are preferably connected together so that for example rectangular, U-shaped or framelike metal paths are produced. 
     The metal path runs for example in the recess in the insulating layer provided for scribing the semiconductor wafer. The metal path may also run partially on the insulating layer present on the semiconductor body. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, conductive paths are provided, in addition to the metal path which run from the metal path towards the inner part of the main surface and are connected there to connecting points. This is advantageous if, for example, the metal path is at reference potential and if various points in the circuit have to be connected to the reference potential. In contrast to the metal path, the conductive paths run substantially on the insulating layer. The material of the metal path is, for example, aluminium, if a silicon semiconductor body is used. 
     Although the metal path is generally connected to a potential, and preferably to reference potential, the desired improvement, i.e. to reduce the parasistic effects and to achieve improved electrical separation of the elements is in some cases already achieved by means of a metal path which is not connected to a particular potential. The decisive factor is merely that the metal path follows a path on the surface of the semiconductor body with sufficient length or area without being separated from the semiconductor body by means of an insulating layer. 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an individual integrated circuit which is already separated from the other integrated circuits of a common semiconductor wafer. The integrated circuit in FIG. 1 contains a series of elements, which cannot be seen in the drawing, inside the semiconductor body. On the main surface of the integrated circuit, on the component side, the insulating layer 2 located on the semiconductor body 1 is seen as well as the metallic connecting paths 3 which serve for external bonding of the integrated circuit. On the right-hand side of the upper main surface 4 is located the metal path 5 provided in accordance with the invention, this metal path running not on the insulating layer 2 but on the semiconductor body along the righthand edge 6. The metal path 5 has a lateral extension 7 which opens out into a connecting pad 8. By means of the bonding pad 8, a connection may be made to a reference potential or an other potential. The metallic connecting pads 3 extend, as does the connecting pad 8, through openings in the insulating layer to the semiconductor body. 
     The metal path 5 is provided in accordance with the invention has nothing to do with the conducting paths 9, which are present for example in accordance with FIG. 2 on the upper surface of integrated circuits. Because the conductive path 9 in FIG. 2 runs substantially on the insulating layer 2, in contrast to the metal path 5 of FIG. 1, and produces only an electrical conductive connection between different points (10, 11) of the semiconductor body or a connection to the connecting pad 3. In this feature the conducting path 9 of FIG. 2 runs substantially on the insulating layer 2 and has contact with the semiconductor body only at the relatively small connecting points (10, 11). In contrast to this the metal path 5 of FIG. 1 runs exclusively on the upper semiconductor surface and not on the insulating layer and maintains the condition that it should run on the semiconductor body over the majority of its length. 
     The integrated circuit of FIG. 3 is distinguished from the integrated circuit of FIG. 1 by the fact that metal paths are present on two sides, and furthermore these are connected together and thus produce a right angled metal path 5. Also metal path 5 of FIG. 3 runs along the edges of the main surface of the semiconductor body on the component side. Moreover, the metal path 5 also has a connecting pad 8. 
     The integrated circuit of FIG. 4 has a U-shaped metal path 5 which runs exclusively on the semiconductor body and at its edge. FIG. 5 shows an integrated circuit having a frame-like metal path 5 which completely encloses the components of the integrated circuit. 
     While the metal paths 5 of the integrated circuit of FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5 run exclusively on the semiconductor body and thus not even partially on the insulating layer 2, FIG. 6 shows an arrangement in which a part of the metal path 5 runs on the insulating layer 2 and the other part of the metal path 5 runs on the semiconductor body. This different path is present over the entire length of the metal path 5 of FIG. 6. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 show portions of a fairly large semiconductor wafer 1 having several integrated circuits. FIG. 7 shows recesses 12 in the insulating layer 2, these recesses exposing the semiconductor surface in the region in which the semiconductor wafer is scribed to facilitate breaking of the semiconductor wafer. Before scribing the metal paths 5 are introduced into the recesses 12 in accordance with FIG. 8. This occurs for example by vaporizing a metallic layer on the whole upper surface and by producing the metal paths 5 by means of etching this metallic layer. The other electrodes of the integrated circuit and, for example, the connecting pads 3 shown are also made at the same time as the metal paths 5. 
     When scribing the semiconductor wafer, it is necessary either to scribe through the metal path located in the scribing region or there is the opportunity to separate out a strip from the metal paths shown in FIG. 8 at the centre before scribing, so that scribing does not have to take place through the metal paths 5. Scribing takes place for example by means of a laser beam. The laser treatment may be used at the same time to alloy the metal of the metal paths 5 to the semiconductor body, the said metal comprising, for example aluminium. 
     It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modification changes and adaptations.