Patent Abstract:
An improved wire bond is provided with the bond pads of semiconductor devices and the lead fingers of lead frames or an improved conductive lead of a TAB tape bond with the bond pad of a semiconductor device. More specifically, an improved wire bond is described wherein the bond pad on a surface of the semiconductor device comprises a layer of copper and at least one layer of metal and/or at least a barrier layer of material between the copper layer and one layer of metal on the copper layer to form a bond pad.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/137,035, filed May 25, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,511,363, issued Mar. 31, 2009, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/383,042, filed Mar. 6, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,987,324, issued Jan. 17, 2006, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/332,665, filed Jun. 14, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,880, issued Apr. 8, 2003. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to improved bonding of conductors with the bond pads of semiconductor devices, such as the bonding of wires to the bond pads of semiconductor devices and lead frames associated therewith or the bonding of the conductive leads in TAB tape bonding to the bond pads of semiconductor devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to improved bonds with copper bond pads of semiconductor devices, such as wire bonding or improved conductive lead bonding of TAB tape to the copper bond pads of semiconductor devices. 
     2. State of the Art 
     In semiconductor device manufacture, a single semiconductor die (or chip) is typically mounted within a sealed package. In general, the package protects the semiconductor die from damage and from contaminants in the surrounding environment. In addition, the package provides a substantial lead system for connecting the electrical devices formed on the die to a printed circuit board or any other desired suitable external circuitry. 
     Each semiconductor die comprises a substrate having a lower surface (commonly referred to as the back of the die) that is devoid of circuitry and an upper surface (commonly referred to as the active surface or face of the die) having integrated circuitry constructed thereon. The integrated circuitry is electrically accessible via bond pads located on the active surface of the semiconductor die which may be arranged in a wide variety of patterns, such as around the periphery of the semiconductor die, the center of the semiconductor die, or both, etc. 
     One of the problems associated with the decreasing size of the semiconductor die and the increasing amount of circuitry included in the semiconductor die is the need to, at least, maintain the speed at which the semiconductor die operates and, if possible, to increase the operating speed of the semiconductor die. Since aluminum is typically used as the material for the connecting circuits of the semiconductor die with smaller circuit line widths of aluminum, it is difficult to maintain or increase the speed of the semiconductor die. Further, it is necessary to connect an ever-increasing number of bond pads on the active surface of the semiconductor die with an ever-increasing number of lead fingers of the lead frame or other type conductors, such as the conductive leads of TAB tape. In each instance, the use of a more conductive material for the connecting circuits of the semiconductor die connecting to the bond pads on the active surface of the semiconductor die is required. 
     In an effort to increase the operating speeds of semiconductor dice using small width circuit lines, improved techniques and processes have been developed to substitute the metal copper for aluminum in the circuit lines of the semiconductor die. However, the use of copper for circuit lines and bond pads of the semiconductor die causes problems when wire bonds are used to connect the copper bond pads of the semiconductor die to the leads of a lead frame or the conductive leads of TAB tape. It is difficult to form wire bond connections using standard or conventional wire bonding equipment when forming wire bonds to connect the copper bond pads of a semiconductor die to the leads of a lead frame. 
     Typically, the initial component in the packaging process is a lead frame. The lead frame is a metal frame which supports the semiconductor die for packaging and provides the leads for the final semiconductor package. A typical lead frame strip is produced from metal sheet stock (usually a copper, copper alloy, alloy 42, etc.) and is adapted to mount the semiconductor die. 
     A conventional lead frame has the semiconductor die adhesively mounted on a die paddle of the lead frame while the lead fingers (leads) extend around the periphery of the semiconductor die (the edges) terminating adjacent thereto. Subsequently, wire bonds are made to connect the bond pads on the active surface of the semiconductor die to the appropriate lead finger of the lead frame. After the wire bonding operation, the lead frame and semiconductor die are encapsulated in a transfer die molding process. After encapsulation, the lead frame is trimmed with the remainder of the individual lead fingers being formed into the desired packaging configuration. 
     One of the problems associated with conventional lead frame configurations is that with the decreasing size of the semiconductor die and the increasing amount of circuitry included in the semiconductor die, it is necessary to connect an ever-increasing number of bond pads on the active surface of the semiconductor die with an ever-increasing number of lead fingers of the lead frame. This requires that the bond pads on the semiconductor die be located on smaller pitch spacings and the width of the lead fingers be smaller. This, in turn, leads to smaller wire bonds on both the bond pads of the semiconductor die and the lead fingers of the lead frame, which causes the wire bonds to be more highly stressed by the forces placed on them. This stress placed on the wire bonds requires that the metal of the bond pad, to which the wire bond is to be made, be highly susceptible to wire bonding and the formation of high strength wire bonds therewith when using well-known wire material, such as gold, etc., and standard or conventional wire bonding equipment. 
     In a Leads-Over-Chip (LOC) type lead frame configuration for an integrated circuit semiconductor device, the lead fingers of the lead frame extend over the active surface of the semiconductor die being insulated therefrom by tape which is adhesively bonded to the active surface of the semiconductor die and the bottom of the lead fingers. In this manner, the semiconductor die is supported directly from the lead fingers of the lead frame. Electrical connections are made between the lead fingers of the lead frame and the bond pads on the active surface of the semiconductor die by way of wire bonds extending therebetween. After wire bonding, the lead frame and semiconductor die are encapsulated in suitable plastic material. Subsequently, the lead fingers are trimmed and formed to the desired configuration to complete the packaged semiconductor device assembly. 
     One of the shortcomings of the prior art LOC semiconductor die assemblies is that the tape used to bond to the lead fingers of the lead frame does not adequately lock the lead fingers in position for the wire bonding process. At times, the adhesive on the tape is not strong enough to fix or lock the lead fingers in position for wire bonding as the lead fingers pull away from the tape before wire bonding. Alternatively, the lead fingers will pull away from the tape after wire bonding of the semiconductor die but before encapsulation of the semiconductor die and lead frame, either causing shorts between adjacent wire bonds or causing the wire bonds to pull loose from either the bond pads of the semiconductor die or lead finger of the lead frame. As before with conventional lead frames, with the decreasing size of the semiconductor die and the increasing amount of circuitry included in the semiconductor die, it is necessary to connect an ever-increasing number of bond pads on the active surface of the semiconductor die with an ever-increasing number of lead fingers of the lead frame. This requires that the bond pads on the semiconductor die be located on smaller pitch spacings and the width of the lead fingers be smaller. This, in turn, leads to smaller wire bonds on both the bond pads and the lead fingers of the lead frame, which cause the wire bonds to be more highly stressed by the forces placed on them. 
     Therefore, when using copper as the metal for the formation of circuits and bond pads of a semiconductor die, a need exists for increased-strength wire bonds between the lead fingers of a lead frame and the bond pads of a semiconductor die or between the conductive leads of TAB tape and the bond pads of a semiconductor die, particularly as the size of the semiconductor die, the size of the bond pads thereon, the size of the lead fingers connected by wire bonds to bond pads, and the pitch thereof, all decrease. 
     It is known in the art to form bumps on the bond pads of a semiconductor die using wire bonding apparatus for subsequent wire bond Tape Automated Bonding (TAB) or flip-chip (face-down) assembly of a bare chip die to a substrate. Such is illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,750,666 and 5,058,798. It is also known to repair defective or broken wire bonds to bond pads of a semiconductor die by forming a flattened pad over the remaining portion of the wire and, subsequently, bonding the end of another wire thereover. Such is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,083. Other types of wire bonding operations on the bond pads of a semiconductor die are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,235,212, 5,298,793, 5,343,064, 5,371,654, and 5,492,863. However, such patents use aluminum for the circuits and bond pads of the semiconductor die rather than copper, which is difficult to make effective bonds thereto using conventional processes and equipment. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to improved wire bonds with the bond pads of semiconductor devices and either the lead fingers of lead frames or the conductive leads of TAB tape. More specifically, the present invention relates to improved wire bonds and improved conductive lead bonds of TAB tape to the bond pads of a semiconductor device wherein the bond pads comprise a copper layer and at least one layer of metal covering a portion of the copper layer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, which illustrate what is currently considered to be the best mode for carrying out the invention: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a semiconductor die having a plurality of copper bond pads thereon having one or more layers of metal thereon; 
         FIGS. 2A through 2F  are views of a portion of a semiconductor device having a bond pad of the present invention located thereon having a wire bond formed thereon; 
         FIGS. 3A through 3C  are views of a portion of a semiconductor device illustrating the formation of a bond pad thereon of the present invention having a wire bond formed thereon; 
         FIGS. 4A through 4D  are views of a portion of a semiconductor device having a bond pad of the present invention located thereon with a conductive lead of a TAB tape bonded thereto; and 
         FIGS. 5A through 5J  are drawings illustrating processes of forming a bond pad of the present invention on a semiconductor device and a subsequent wire bond and bonding of a conductive lead of a TAB tape therewith. 
     
    
    
     The present invention will be better understood when the drawings are taken in conjunction with the following description of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 1 , a portion of a semiconductor device  10  is illustrated having a plurality of bond pads  12  located on the active surface  14  of a semiconductor device  10  having a layer of insulating material  13 , and a passivation layer, thereon. The semiconductor device  10  may be of any desired type having any desired configuration of bond pads  12  connected to the active circuitry therein. As illustrated, bond pads  12  include a copper metal layer base  12 ′ and one or more additional metal layers  12 ″ thereon to facilitate the formation of an acceptable wire bond using well-known alloys of metal for the wire to the bond pads  12 . The wire bond may be formed or secured to the bond pads  12  by any desired, well-known wire bonding apparatus used in the industry using any desired type of wire, such as aluminum, copper, copper alloy, aluminum-copper alloy, gold, silver, gold-silver alloy, platinum, etc., although gold wire is preferred to be used as gold does not form an oxide after the deposition thereof on the bond pad  12  as would aluminum, silver, etc. 
     As necessary, the bond pad  12  may be comprised of layers of different metals to enhance bonding characteristics. For instance, layer base  12 ′ is of copper metal such as is used for the circuits of the semiconductor device  10 , i.e., copper metal, a copper alloy, etc. Typically, the layer  12 ″ would be of gold, gold alloy, silver, silver alloy, palladium and alloys thereof, noble metals and alloys thereof, nickel and alloys thereof, nickel and gold alloys, zincated copper, etc. The layer  12 ″ may further include an additional intermediate layer of metal or other materials to help prevent intermetallic compounds from forming between the copper layer base  12 ′ and layer  12 ″ and/or for adhesion purposes. For instance, the layer  12 ″ may commonly comprise a layer of TaN, TiN, Ni alloys, etc. If a gold wire is used for wire bonding, the metal layer  12 ″ may typically be a gold or gold alloy metal layer. In this manner, by forming the bond pad  12  of multiple layers of metal, a strong bond between the wire used for wire bonding and the copper metal layer base  12 ′ of the bond pad  12  may be formed, particularly since gold does not form an oxide coating after the deposition thereof to affect any subsequent bond of material thereto. If desired, one layer of the metal layer  12 ″ or multiple metal layers  12 ″ may be a layer of metal forming a barrier to prevent any copper from the layer base  12 ′ from migrating therethrough or any metal of the metal layer  12 ″ from migrating to the copper layer base  12 ′. Additionally, one layer of the metal layer  12 ″ may be a layer of metal for adhesion promoting purposes to either the copper layer base  12 ′ or the metal layer  12 ″. 
     Referring to drawing  FIGS. 2A through 2C , a process for forming multi-layer bond pads  12  on the active surface  14  of substrate  11  is illustrated. A portion of a semiconductor device  10  is shown in drawing  FIG. 2A  having a copper layer base  12 ′ forming a portion of the bond pad  12 . Illustrated in drawing  FIG. 2B , is a layer of metal  12 ″ overlying the copper layer base  12 ′ of the bond pad  12 . The layer of metal  12 ″ may be selectively plated by well-known techniques over the copper layer base  12 ′, the layer of metal  12 ″ having good properties for the wire bonding of a wire  20  to the bond pad  12 . Illustrated in drawing  FIG. 2C , a wire  20  is bonded by well-known wire bonding apparatus to the layer of metal  12 ″ of the bond pad  12  using a wire bond ball  22 . 
     Still referring to drawing  FIGS. 2A through 2C , a portion of a semiconductor device  10  is shown having a bond pad  12  thereon with the copper layer base  12 ′ located thereon having the upper surface thereof located at approximately the same level as the active surface  14  of substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10 , the active surface  14  having a layer of insulating material  13  (typically a passivation layer of an insulating oxide or insulating nitride) thereon. As illustrated in drawing  FIG. 2B , the copper layer base  12 ′ of bond pad  12  has a suitable metal layer  12 ″ selectively plated thereon using well-known plating processes, the function of the metal layer  12 ″ being to provide a good metal to which an effective wire bond may be formed using well-known wire bonding apparatus. 
     Illustrated in drawing  FIG. 2C , a wire  20  is wire bonded to metal layer  12 ″ using a ball  22  formed on the end of the wire  20  using any well-known suitable wire bonding apparatus. In the wire bonding process, the portion of the metal layer  12 ″ on the bond pad  12  located under ball  22  of the wire  20  of the wire bond thereto may be consumed during the wire bonding process, thereby allowing the ball  22  of the wire  20  of the wire bond to make direct contact with the copper layer base  12 ′ of the bond pad  12 . For example, when the metal layer  12 ″ is gold and the ball  22  of wire  20  is gold wire, the metal layer  12 ″ located under the ball  22  will become part of the ball  22  during the wire bonding process with the ball  22  being bonded to the copper layer base  12 ′ of the bond pad  12 . 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 2D , a wire  20  is wire bonded to copper layer base  12 ′ with the ball  22  on the end of wire  20  consuming or adding part of the metal layer  12 ″ during the bonding process forming the ball  22  on the end of wire  20  connecting the wire  20  to the copper layer base  12 ′. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 2E , a portion of a semiconductor device  10  is shown having a bond pad  12  thereon with the copper layer base  12 ′ located thereon having the upper surface thereof located at approximately the same level as the active surface  14  of substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10 , the active surface  14  having a layer of insulating material  13  (typically a passivation layer of an insulating oxide or insulating nitride) thereon. As illustrated in drawing  FIG. 2E , the copper layer base  12 ′ of bond pad  12  has a barrier layer  12 ′″ formed of a suitable material having a suitable metal layer  12 ″ selectively plated thereon using well-known plating processes. The function of the barrier layer  12 ′″ is to help prevent interaction between the copper layer base  12 ′ and the suitable metal layer  12 ″ of the bond pad  12  and/or to help prevent or decrease the growth of intermetallics between the copper layer base  12 ′ and the metal layer  12 ″. For instance, barrier materials, such as titanium, tungsten, tantalum, nickel, tantalum-nickel alloys, titanium-nickel alloys, titanium-tungsten alloys, etc., are frequently used in conjunction with aluminum alloy interconnects. In other instances, a barrier layer of nickel between copper and tin will decrease the growth of tin-copper intermetallics. The layers of metal forming the bond pads  12  also occasionally are silicided, or have a refractory interconnect material, such as molybdenum, tungsten, or tungsten silicide, as part thereof. The function of the metal layer  12 ″ is to provide a good metal to which an effective wire bond may be formed using well-known wire bonding apparatus, such as a metal layer  12 ″ of gold when a gold wire  20  is being used for wire bonding. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 2F , a wire  20  is wire bonded to barrier layer  12 ′″ with the ball  22  on the end of wire  20  consuming part of the metal layer  12 ″ during the bonding process forming the ball  22  on the end of wire  20  connecting the wire  20  to the barrier layer  12 ′″. 
     Referring to drawing  FIGS. 3A through 3C , a portion of a semiconductor device  10  is shown wherein a copper layer base  12 ′ is deposited on the substrate  11  using any desired well-known process having a thin layer of metal  12 ″, as described hereinbefore, deposited thereon. The thin layer of metal  12 ″ may be deposited on the copper layer base  12 ′ by any well-known process, such as sputter deposition, electrodeposition, electroless deposition, etc. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 3B , the portion of the semiconductor device  10  is shown after the copper layer base  12 ′ and layer of metal  12 ″ deposited thereon have been patterned using well-known techniques to apply a photoresist in a desired pattern with the subsequent etching of the copper layer base  12 ′ and layer of metal  12 ″ to form a bond pad  12  on the substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10 . The copper layer base  12 ′ and layer of metal  12 ″ deposited thereon may be any desired shape, size, and number for the desired number of bond pads  12  on the substrate  11 . Further, the copper layer base  12 ′ may include at least two or more layers of metal with the upper layer being a copper layer, thereby forming a stack of layers of differing metal with the upper layer being a copper layer. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 3C , a portion of the semiconductor device  10  is shown having a wire  20  bonded to the layer of metal  12 ″ of the bond pad  12  using a ball  22  type bond thereto for wire bonding using any desired well-known wire bonding apparatus. The semiconductor substrate  11  includes a layer of insulating material  13 , as described hereinbefore, on active surface  14  thereof surrounding the bond pad  12 . 
     Referring to drawing  FIGS. 4A through 4D , in drawing  FIG. 4A , a portion of a semiconductor device  10  is shown having a bond pad  12  thereon with the copper layer base  12 ′ located thereon having the upper surface thereof located at approximately the same level as the active surface  14  of substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10 , the active surface  14  having a layer of insulating material  13  (typically a passivation layer of an insulating oxide or insulating nitride) thereon. Also illustrated in drawing  FIG. 4A , the copper layer base  12 ′ of bond pad  12  has a suitable metal layer  12 ″ selectively plated thereon using well-known plating processes. The function of the metal layer  12 ″ is to provide a good metal to which an effective wire bond may be formed using well-known wire bonding apparatus. 
     Illustrated in drawing  FIG. 4B , the copper layer base  12 ′ of bond pad  12  has a suitable barrier layer  12 ′″ located between the copper layer base  12 ′ and the suitable metal layer  12 ″, such as described hereinbefore. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 4C , a portion of a semiconductor device  10  is shown having a bond pad  12  thereon having a copper layer base  12 ′ located thereon having a portion bonded thereto of a conductive lead  23  located on a portion of a substrate  24  of a portion of a TAB tape  21 . The active surface  14  of substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10  has a layer of insulating material  13  (typically a passivation layer of an insulating oxide or insulating nitride) thereon. Also illustrated in drawing  FIG. 4C , the function of the metal layer  12 ″ is to provide a good metal to which an effective bond may be formed using well-known bonding apparatus to bond the conductive lead  23  of the TAB tape  21 . The conductive lead  23  of the TAB tape  21  may be of any suitable metal, such as copper, copper alloys, etc. The metal layer  12 ″ may be of any suitable metal, such as described herein. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 4D , a portion of a semiconductor device  10  is shown having a bond pad  12  thereon having a copper layer base  12 ′ located thereon having a barrier layer  12 ′″ located thereon having, in turn, a metal layer  12 ″ located thereon. The metal layer  12 ″ of the bond pad  12  is bonded to a portion of a conductive lead  23  located on a portion of a substrate  24  of a portion of a TAB tape  21 . The conductive lead  23  of the portion of the TAB tape  21  includes a layer  26  of suitable metal located thereon for the bonding of the conductive lead  23  to the metal layer  12 ″ of the bond pad  12  of the semiconductor device  10 . The active surface  14  of substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10  has a layer of insulating material  13  (typically a passivation layer of an insulating oxide or insulating nitride) thereon. Also illustrated in drawing  FIG. 4D , the function of the metal layer  12 ″ is to provide a good metal to which an effective bond may be formed using well-known bonding apparatus to the metal layer  26  of the conductive lead  23  of the TAB tape  21 . The substrate  24  and metal layer  26  may be of any suitable metal for bonding purposes, such as gold, alloys of gold, etc. The conductive lead  23  of the TAB tape  21  may be of any suitable metal, such as copper, copper alloys, etc. The metal layer  12 ″ may be of any suitable metal, such as described herein. The barrier layer  12 ′″ may be of any suitable metal or material, such as described herein. 
     Referring to drawing  FIGS. 5A through 5J , various differing processes for the formation of the bond pad  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′ and a layer of metal  12 ″ and, if desired, a barrier layer  12 ′″ are illustrated. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 5A , a process  100  for the formation of a bond pad  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′ and a layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for wire bonding purposes as described hereinbefore is illustrated. As illustrated in step  102 , a substrate  11  as described hereinbefore for a semiconductor device  10  has a layer base  12 ′ of copper or copper alloy deposited thereon using any desired deposition process. Subsequently, in step  104 , a layer of metal  12 ″ is deposited on the copper layer base  12 ′ using any well-known deposition process. Then, in step  106 , the copper layer base  12 ′ and layer of metal  12 ″ is patterned and etched to form the desired shape, number, and pattern for the bond pads  12  on the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10 . A layer of insulating material  13  is typically applied to the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  to protect the circuitry formed thereon of the semiconductor device  10 . After the completion of the semiconductor device  10  having bond pads  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′ and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon, the semiconductor device  10  may be assembled to a lead frame (not shown) for wire bonding a wire  20  to the bond pad  12  of the semiconductor device  10  using any suitable wire bonding process  108  and apparatus. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 5B , a process  200  for the formation of a bond pad  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′ and a layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for wire bonding purposes as described hereinbefore is illustrated. As illustrated in step  202 , a substrate  11  as described hereinbefore for a semiconductor device  10  has a layer base  12 ′ of copper or copper alloy deposited thereon using any desired deposition process. Subsequently, in step  204 , the copper layer base  12 ′ is patterned and etched to form the desired shape, number, and pattern for the bond pads  12  on the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10 . Then, in step  206 , the layer of metal  12 ″ is deposited on the copper layer base  12 ′ using any desired deposition process, as described hereinbefore, such as electrodeposition, electroless deposition, etc., to form the bond pad  12  having a copper layer base  12 ′ and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for good wire bonding properties. A layer of insulating material  13  is typically applied to the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  to protect the circuitry formed thereon of the semiconductor device  10 . After the completion of the semiconductor device  10  having bond pads  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′ and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon, the semiconductor device  10  may be assembled to a lead frame (not shown) for wire bonding a wire  20  to the bond pad  12  of the semiconductor device  10  using any suitable wire bonding process  208  and apparatus. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 5C , a process  300  for the formation of a bond pad  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′, a barrier layer  12 ′″, and a layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for wire bonding purposes as described hereinbefore is illustrated. As illustrated in step  302 , a substrate  11  as described hereinbefore for a semiconductor device  10  has a layer base  12 ′ of copper or copper alloy deposited thereon using any desired deposition process. Subsequently, in step  304 , a barrier layer  12 ′″ of suitable material is deposited on the copper layer base  12 ′ using any well-known deposition process. Then, in step  306 , the copper layer base  12 ′ and barrier layer  12 ′″ are patterned and etched to form the desired shape, number, and pattern for the bond pads  12  on the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10 . Then a metal layer  12 ″ is deposited in step  308  over the barrier layer  12 ′″ and subsequently patterned in step  310 . A layer of insulating material  13  is typically applied to the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  to protect the circuitry formed thereon of the semiconductor device  10 . After the completion of the semiconductor device  10  having bond pads  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′, barrier layer  12 ′″, and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon, the semiconductor device  10  may be assembled to a lead frame (not shown) for wire bonding a wire  20  to the bond pad  12  of the semiconductor device  10  using any suitable wire bonding process  312  and apparatus. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 5D , a process  400  for the formation of a bond pad  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′, a barrier layer  12 ′″, and a layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for wire bonding purposes as described hereinbefore is illustrated. As illustrated in step  402 , a substrate  11  as described hereinbefore for a semiconductor device  10  has a layer base  12 ′ of copper or copper alloy deposited thereon using any desired deposition process. Subsequently, in step  404 , a barrier layer  12 ′″ of suitable material is deposited on the copper layer base  12 ′ using any well-known deposition process. Then, in step  406 , a metal layer  12 ″ is deposited on the barrier layer  12 ′″. In step  408 , the copper layer base  12 ′, barrier layer  12 ′″, and metal layer  12 ″ are patterned and etched to form the desired shape, number, and pattern for the bond pads  12  on the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10 . A layer of insulating material  13  is typically applied to the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  to protect the circuitry formed thereon of the semiconductor device  10 . After the completion of the semiconductor device  10  having bond pads  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′, barrier layer  12 ′″, and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon, the semiconductor device  10  may be assembled to a lead frame (not shown) for wire bonding a wire  20  to the bond pad  12  of the semiconductor device  10  using any suitable wire bonding process  410  and apparatus. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 5E , a process  500  for the formation of a bond pad  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′ and a layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for wire bonding purposes as described hereinbefore is illustrated. As illustrated in step  502 , a substrate  11  as described hereinbefore for a semiconductor device  10  has a layer of copper or copper alloy deposited thereon using any desired deposition process. Subsequently, in step  504 , at least two barrier layers  12 ′″ are deposited on the copper layer base  12 ′. In step  506 , a metal layer  12 ″ is deposited on the barrier layer  12 ′″ using any desired deposition process, as described hereinbefore, such as electrodeposition, electroless deposition, etc. In step  508 , the copper layer base  12 ′, barrier layer  12 ′″, and metal layer  12 ″ are patterned to form the bond pad  12  having a copper layer base  12 ′, barrier layer  12 ′″, and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for good wire bonding properties. A layer of insulating material  13  is typically applied to the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  to protect the circuitry formed thereon of the semiconductor device  10 . After the completion of the semiconductor device  10  having bond pads  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′, at least two barrier layers  12 ′″, and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon, the semiconductor device  10  may be assembled to a lead frame (not shown) for wire bonding a wire  20  to the bond pad  12  of the semiconductor device  10  using any suitable wire bonding process  510  and apparatus. 
     Referring to drawing  FIGS. 5F through 5J , the processes set forth therein are similar to those described regarding those illustrated in drawing  FIGS. 5A through 5E , except that a conductive lead  23  of a TAB tape  21  is bonded to the bond pad  12  of the semiconductor device  10 , rather than a wire bond being made to the bond pad  12  of a semiconductor device  10 . 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 5F , a process  600  for the formation of a bond pad  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′ and a layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for conductive lead  23  of TAB tape  21  bonding purposes as described hereinbefore is illustrated. As illustrated in step  602 , a substrate  11  as described hereinbefore for a semiconductor device  10  has a layer base  12 ′ of copper or copper alloy deposited thereon using any desired deposition process. Subsequently, in step  604 , a layer of metal  12 ″ is deposited on the copper layer base  12 ′ using any well-known deposition process. Then, in step  606 , the copper layer base  12 ′ and layer of metal  12 ″ are patterned and etched to form the desired shape, number, and pattern for the bond pads  12  on the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10 . A layer of insulating material  13  is typically applied to the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  to protect the circuitry formed thereon of the semiconductor device  10 . After the completion of the semiconductor device  10  having bond pads  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′ and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon, the semiconductor device  10  may be assembled to a conductive lead  23  of a TAB tape  21  for bonding a conductive lead  23  to the bond pad  12  of the semiconductor device  10  using any suitable bonding process  608  and apparatus. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 5G , a process  700  for the formation of a bond pad  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′ and a layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for conductive lead  23  of TAB tape  21  bonding purposes as described hereinbefore is illustrated. As illustrated in step  702 , a substrate  11  as described hereinbefore for a semiconductor device  10  has a layer base  12 ′ of copper or copper alloy deposited thereon using any desired deposition process. Subsequently, in step  704 , the copper layer base  12 ′ is patterned and etched to form the desired shape, number, and pattern for the bond pads  12  on the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10 . Then, in step  706 , the layer of metal  12 ″ is deposited on the copper layer base  12 ′ using any desired deposition process, as described hereinbefore, such as electrodeposition, electroless deposition, etc., to form the bond pad  12  having a copper layer base  12 ′ and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for good wire bonding properties. A layer of insulating material  13  is typically applied to the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  to protect the circuitry formed thereon of the semiconductor device  10 . After the completion of the semiconductor device  10  having bond pads  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′ and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon, the semiconductor device  10  may be assembled to a conductive lead  23  of a TAB tape  21  for wire bonding a conductive lead  23  to the bond pad  12  of the semiconductor device  10  using any suitable bonding process  708  and apparatus. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 5H , a process  800  for the formation of a bond pad  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′, a barrier layer  12 ′″, and a layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for conductive lead  23  of TAB tape  21  bonding purposes as described hereinbefore is illustrated. As illustrated in step  802 , a substrate  11  as described hereinbefore for a semiconductor device  10  has a layer base  12 ′ of copper or copper alloy deposited thereon using any desired deposition process. Subsequently, in step  804 , a barrier layer  12 ′″ of suitable material is deposited on the copper layer base  12 ′ using any well-known deposition process. Then, in step  806 , the copper layer base  12 ′ and barrier layer  12 ′″ are patterned and etched to form the desired shape, number, and pattern for the bond pads  12  on the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10 . Then a metal layer  12 ″ is deposited in step  808  over the barrier layer  12 ′″ and subsequently patterned in step  810 . A layer of insulating material  13  is typically applied to the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  to protect the circuitry formed thereon of the semiconductor device  10 . After the completion of the semiconductor device  10  having bond pads  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′, barrier layer  12 ′″, and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon, the semiconductor device  10  may be assembled to a conductive lead  23  of a TAB tape  21  for bonding a conductive lead  23  to the bond pad  12  of the semiconductor device  10  using any suitable bonding process  812  and apparatus. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 5I , a process  900  for the formation of a bond pad  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′, a barrier layer  12 ′″, and a layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for conductive lead  23  of TAB tape  21  bonding purposes as described hereinbefore is illustrated. As illustrated in step  902 , a substrate  11  as described hereinbefore for a semiconductor device  10  has a layer base  12 ′ of copper or copper alloy deposited thereon using any desired deposition process. Subsequently, in step  904 , a barrier layer  12 ′″ of suitable material is deposited on the copper layer base  12 ′ using any well-known deposition process. Then, in step  906 , a metal layer  12 ″ is deposited on the barrier layer  12 ′″. In step  908 , the copper layer base  12 ′, barrier layer  12 ′″, and metal layer  12 ″ are patterned and etched to form the desired shape, number, and pattern for the bond pads  12  on the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  of the semiconductor device  10 . A layer of insulating material  13  is typically applied to the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  to protect the circuitry formed thereon of the semiconductor device  10 . After the completion of the semiconductor device  10  having bond pads  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′, barrier layer  12 ′″, and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon, the semiconductor device  10  may be assembled to a conductive lead  23  of a TAB tape  21  for bonding a conductive lead  23  to the bond pad  12  of the semiconductor device  10  using any suitable bonding process  910  and apparatus. 
     Referring to drawing  FIG. 5J , a process  1000  for the formation of a bond pad  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′ and a layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for conductive lead  23  of TAB tape  21  bonding purposes as described hereinbefore is illustrated. As illustrated in step  1002 , a substrate  11  as described hereinbefore for a semiconductor device  10  has a layer base  12 ′ of copper or copper alloy deposited thereon using any desired deposition process. Subsequently, in step  1004 , at least two barrier layers  12 ′″ are deposited on the copper layer base  12 ′. In step  1006 , a metal layer  12 ″ is deposited on the barrier layers  12 ′″ using any desired deposition process, as described hereinbefore, such as electrodeposition, electroless deposition, etc. In step  1008 , the copper layer base  12 ′, barrier layers  12 ′″, and metal layer  12 ″ are patterned to form the bond pad  12  having a copper layer base  12 ′, barrier layers  12 ′″, and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon for good wire bonding properties. A layer of insulating material  13  is typically applied to the active surface  14  of the substrate  11  to protect the circuitry formed thereon of the semiconductor device  10 . After the completion of the semiconductor device  10  having bond pads  12  including a copper layer base  12 ′, barrier layer  12 ′″, and layer of metal  12 ″ thereon, the semiconductor device  10  may be assembled to a conductive lead  23  of a TAB tape  21  for wire bonding a conductive lead  23  to the bond pad  12  of the semiconductor device  10  using any suitable bonding process  1010  and apparatus. 
     It will be understood that changes, additions, deletions, and modifications may be made to the present invention which are intended to be within the scope of the claimed invention, such as the use of more than a single layer of metal over the copper layer to form a bond pad, the copper layer being multiple layers of differing materials, the barrier layer being multiple layers of differing materials, the metal layer being multiple layers of differing materials, etc.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7