Abstract:
Methods of forming semiconductor device assemblies include forming a depression in a semiconductor chip while the semiconductor chip is disposed in the stack, and filling the depression with conductive material. Additional methods include ablating material of a semiconductor device to form a depression, and subsequently filling the depression conductive material. In some embodiments, the depression may be formed in a sidewall of the semiconductor device, and the conductive material may be exposed at the sidewall of the semiconductor device. Yet additional methods include causing a laser machining apparatus to execute a computer program that causes the laser machining apparatus to substantially automatically ablate a plurality of depressions in a surface of a wafer in a predetermined pattern. Intermediate structures formed during fabrication of a semiconductor device include laser ablation slag disposed in at least one depression in a layer of material extending over at least a portion of a wafer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/673,692, filed Sep. 29, 2003, pending. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to the fabrication of semiconductor device structures. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for creating depressions in a semiconductor substrate or film using laser machining processes and using such depressions for defining precise electrical pathways in a semiconductor device structure.  
         [0004]     2. Background of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Connection lines (e.g., lead and/or bond connections), traces, signals and other elongated conductive elements are utilized in semiconductor device structures to carry electronic signals and other forms of electron flow between one region of the semiconductor device structure and another and between regions within the semiconductor device structure and external contacts (e.g., solder balls, bond pads and the like) associated therewith. Conventional methods for forming such elongated conductive elements utilize a damascene process wherein one or more depressions is etched in a semiconductor substrate or film, backfilled with an electrically conductive material and polished back or “planarized” even with the surface of the substrate or film. As used herein, the term “depression” includes troughs, channels, vias, holes and other depressions in and through a semiconductor substrate or film, which depressions may be used to define electrical pathways that carry electronic signals between one region of a semiconductor device structure and another, and between regions within the semiconductor device structure and external contacts associated therewith, as well as providing power, ground and bias to integrated circuitry of the semiconductor device structure. Such electrical pathways may include, without limitation, the depressions used to define traces or lines for signal lines, power and ground lines, and the like.  
         [0006]      FIGS. 1A-1E  schematically depict a conventional damascene process sequence for creating elongated conductive elements in the form of traces  26  in an interlevel dielectric layer  14 . It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that while the process depicted illustrates formation of a plurality of traces  26 , the process sequence is typically utilized for the formation of other elongated conductive elements, e.g., lines for signal lines, power and ground lines, as well. It will be further understood that the methods and structures described herein do not form a complete process for manufacturing semiconductor device structures. The remainder of the process is known to those of ordinary skill in the art and, therefore, only the process steps and structures necessary to understand the conventional process sequence are described herein.  
         [0007]     Referring to  FIG. 1A , a cross-sectional view of a first intermediate structure  10  in the fabrication of a semiconductor device structure  24  having a plurality of traces  26  in the interlevel dielectric layer  14  thereof is illustrated. The first intermediate structure  10  includes an interlevel dielectric layer  14 , e.g., thermally grown silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), which resides on a semiconductor substrate  12 , such as a silicon wafer. It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the figures presented in conjunction with this description are not meant to be actual cross-sectional views of any particular portion of an actual semiconductor device, but are merely idealized representations which are employed to more clearly and fully depict the conventional process sequence than would otherwise be possible. Elements common between the figures maintain the same numeric designation.  
         [0008]     A photoresist layer  16 , formed from a conventional photoresist material, is disposed atop the interlevel dielectric layer  14  and one or more trace precursors in the form of trace depressions  18  are patterned in the photoresist layer  16  using conventional photolithography techniques. The patterned trace depressions  18  may be of any shape or configuration including, but not limited to, circles, ovals, rectangles, elongated slots and the like.  
         [0009]     As shown in  FIG. 1B , the interlevel dielectric layer  14  is subsequently etched using the photoresist layer  16  as a mask so that the patterned trace depressions  18  are extended into the interlevel dielectric layer  14 . Such etching processes are known to those of ordinary skill in the art and may include, without limitation, reactive ion etching (RIE) or an oxide etch. As shown in  FIG. 1C , the photoresist layer  16  is subsequently removed by a conventional process, such as a wet-strip process, a tape lift-off technique, or combinations thereof, creating a second intermediate structure  20 .  
         [0010]     As shown in  FIG. 1D , an electrically conductive material  22 , e.g., tungsten is subsequently blanket deposited over the interlevel dielectric layer  14  such that the trace depressions  18  are filled therewith. The electrically conductive material  22  is then planarized using, e.g., a mechanical abrasion technique, such as chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), to isolate the electrically conductive material  22  in the trace depressions  18 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1E . Thus, a semiconductor device structure  24  including a plurality of traces  26  in the interlevel dielectric layer  14  thereof is fabricated.  
         [0011]     For more complex electrical pathways, for instance, those in which both an elongated conductive element (e.g., a trace) and one or more discrete conductive structures (e.g., vias) are to be defined in a single interlevel dielectric layer, a dual damascene process may be utilized.  FIGS. 2A-2I  illustrate a conventional dual damascene process sequence. Referring to  FIG. 2A , a cross-sectional view of a first intermediate structure  10 ′ in the fabrication of a semiconductor device structure  24 ′ having a plurality of traces  26 ′ and a plurality of conductor-filled vias  32  in the interlevel dielectric layer  14 ′ thereof is illustrated. The first intermediate structure  10 ′ includes an interlevel dielectric layer  14 ′, e.g., thermally grown SiO 2 , which resides on a semiconductor substrate  12 ′, such as a silicon wafer. A mask layer  28  having a plurality of trace precursors in the form of trace depressions  18 ′ patterned therein, is disposed atop the interlevel dielectric layer  14 ′. The patterned trace depressions  18 ′ may be of any shape or configuration including, but not limited to, circles, ovals, rectangles, elongated slots and the like.  
         [0012]     As shown in  FIG. 2B , a photoresist layer  16 ′, formed from a conventional photoresist material, is subsequently deposited atop the mask layer  28  such that the patterned trace depressions  18 ′ are filled therewith. Next, as shown in  FIG. 2C , conventional photolithography is performed on the photoresist layer  16 ′, thereby forming a patterned photoresist layer  16 ″ having a plurality of vias  30  patterned therein which align with the trace depressions  18 ′ of the mask layer  28 .  
         [0013]     Referring to  FIG. 2D , the interlevel dielectric layer  14 ′ is subsequently etched, using, e.g., RIE, utilizing the patterned photoresist layer  16 ″ as a mask. The pattern of vias  30  is accordingly extended into the upper portion of the interlevel dielectric layer  14 ′.  
         [0014]     As shown in  FIG. 2E , the patterned photoresist layer  16 ″ is subsequently removed, forming a second intermediate structure  20 ′. Thereafter, the interlevel dielectric layer  14 ′ is etched using the mask layer  28  with the patterned trace depressions  18 ′ therein and the upper portion of the interlevel dielectric layer  14 ′ with the vias  30  therein as a mask. This step is shown in  FIG. 2F . As a result, the desired trace pattern is extended into the upper portion of the interlevel dielectric layer  14 ′ and the vias  30  in the upper portion of the interlevel dielectric layer  14 ′ are concurrently extended into the lower portion of the interlevel dielectric layer  14 ′.  
         [0015]     Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 2G , the mask layer  28  is removed by a conventional process creating a third intermediate structure  34 . An electrically conductive material  22 ′, e.g.,tungsten, is then blanket deposited over the interlevel dielectric layer  14 ′ such that the trace depressions  18 ′ and vias  30  are filled therewith, as shown in  FIG. 2H . The electrically conductive material  22 ′ is then planarized using, e.g., a mechanical abrasion technique such as chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), to isolate the electrically conductive material  22 ′ in the vias  30  and trace depressions  18 ′. This step is illustrated in  FIG. 2I . Thus, a semiconductor device structure  24 ′ having a plurality of traces  26 ′ and a plurality of conductor-filled vias  32  defined in a single interlevel dielectric layer  14 ′ thereof is fabricated.  
         [0016]     Further methods of forming damascene and dual damascene structures are known. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,495,448 describes an additional process for forming a dual damascene structure. However, all such conventional methods include one or more photolithography processing steps which significantly impact the cost of manufacturing semiconductor device structures. Further, elongated conductive elements, such as traces, and discrete conductive structures, such as vias or bond pads, must be created during separate and distinct processing steps, again increasing the cost and complexity of manufacture. Still further, such techniques, while effective for forming elongated conductive elements and discrete conductive structures in the material for which the technique was designed, e.g., SiO 2 , may not be as effective for creating such conductive elements or structures in other materials, such as semiconductor substrates (e.g., silicon wafers) or films (e.g., passivation films).  
         [0017]     Accordingly, the inventor has recognized that a method of forming elongated conductive elements and discrete conductive structures in a semiconductor substrate or film that utilizes fewer process steps and less material than conventional processing techniques would be desirable. Further, the inventor has recognized that a method of forming elongated conductive elements and discrete conductive structures which is void of photoprocessing steps and which may be utilized to create multiple elongated conductive elements and discrete conductive structures substantially simultaneously would be advantageous.  
         [0018]     Laser machining of interconnects for external contacts and of conductive vias is known in the art. For instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,109, a method for fabricating a straight line electrical path from a conductive layer within a semiconductor device to the backside of a semiconductor substrate using a laser beam is disclosed. The method includes forming an opening through a substrate to electrically connect external contacts engaged on a face side thereof to the backside of the substrate. The opening is perpendicular to both the face side and backside of the substrate. In one embodiment, the openings are formed using a laser machining process.  
         [0019]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,114,240 discloses a method for laser machining conductive vias for interconnecting contacts (e.g., solder balls, bond pads and the like) on semiconductor components. In the described method, a laser beam is focused to produce vias having a desired geometry, e.g., hourglass, inwardly tapered, or outwardly tapered.  
         [0020]     The inventor has recognized that a laser machine processing technique which may be used for the formation of elongated conductive elements, e.g., traces and the like, in semiconductor substrates or films would be advantageous. Further, a technique wherein multiple and different elongated conductive elements and discrete conductive structures may be defined in a single layer (e.g., a substrate or film) substantially simultaneously would be desirable.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     The present invention, in one embodiment, includes a method for creating depressions in a semiconductor substrate using laser machining processes and using such depressions to define precise electrical pathways in a semiconductor device structure. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate (e.g., a silicon wafer) and forming one or more electrical pathways in the semiconductor substrate using laser machining processes. The electrical pathways may subsequently be filled with an electrically conductive material (e.g., a metal, a conductive polymer, or conductive nano-particles) and planarized to create one or more elongated conductive elements in the semiconductor substrate. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that if the semiconductor substrate is formed of a conductive semiconductor material such as silicon (e.g., a silicon substrate used for test purposes), an insulating layer comprising an insulating material, such as silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ), or parylene, may be deposited or grown on the surface of the semiconductor substrate prior to filling the electrical pathways therein with the electrically conductive material.  
         [0022]     The present invention, in another embodiment, further includes a method for creating depressions in a film residing on a semiconductor substrate, which depressions define precise electrical pathways in a semiconductor device structure. The film may include, for instance, a dielectric film in the form of an interlevel dielectric layer, a passivation film, or the like. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a film over the semiconductor substrate. The method further includes forming one or more electrical pathways in the film using laser machining processes. The electrical pathways may subsequently be filled with an electrically conductive material (e.g., a metal, a conductive polymer, or conductive nano-particles) to create one or more elongated conductive elements in the film. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that ablated electrical pathways may extend into the film a depth less than the full thickness of the film. Alternatively, the ablated electrical pathways may extend through the full thickness of the film such that the semiconductor substrate, including any active areas thereon, may be contacted. As a further option, the electrical pathways may be extended into and even through the semiconductor substrate.  
         [0023]     The present invention, in a further embodiment, includes a method for creating one or more elongated conductive elements and one or more discrete conductive structures substantially simultaneously in a single semiconductor substrate or film layer. As used herein, “substantially simultaneously” is used to indicate a rapid traversal of a laser beam over the surface of the substrate or film, as more fully described below. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, optionally providing a film layer over the semiconductor substrate, and substantially simultaneously forming locations and configurations for one or more elongated conductive elements and one or more discrete conductive structures in the substrate or film using laser machining processes. The resulting depressions defining the elongated conductive element(s) and discrete conductive structure(s) may subsequently be filled with an electrically conductive material (e.g., a metal, a conductive polymer, or conductive nano-particles). It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the method of the present invention may be used to ablate one or more elongated conductive elements and one or more discrete conductive structures in association with one another. Alternatively, the method may be used to substantially simultaneously form separate discrete conductive structures and elongated conductive elements, depending on the desired application.  
         [0024]     In yet another embodiment, the present invention includes a method for creating electrical connections through a sidewall of a semiconductor device structure using laser machining processes. The electrical connections may include traces or lines for signal lines, power and ground lines, and the like, to provide access to power, signal and ground sources external to the semiconductor device structure. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, optionally forming a film layer over the semiconductor substrate and forming one or more electrical connections through a sidewall of the semiconductor substrate or film using laser machining processes. The electrical connection(s) may subsequently be filled with an electrically conductive material, e.g., a metal, a conductive polymer, or conductive nano-particles. Such method may be useful, for instance, in forming a die connect for a vertical surface mount package.  
         [0025]     Additional aspects of the invention, together with the advantages and novel features appurtenant thereto, will be set forth in the description which follows and will also become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following and from the practice of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]     While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming that which is regarded as the present invention, the advantages of this invention may be more readily ascertained from the following description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0027]      FIGS. 1A-1E  are side cross-sectional views schematically illustrating a prior art method of forming a damascene structure;  
         [0028]      FIGS. 2A-2I  are side cross-sectional views schematically illustrating a prior art method of forming a dual damascene structure;  
         [0029]      FIGS. 3A-3E  are side cross-sectional views schematically illustrating a method in accordance with the present invention for forming elongated conductive elements (e.g., traces) in a semiconductor substrate (e.g., a silicon wafer);  
         [0030]      FIG. 3F  is a top plan view of a semiconductor device having a plurality of filled elongated conductive elements in a semiconductor substrate thereof;  
         [0031]      FIGS. 4A-4E  are side cross-sectional views schematically illustrating a method in accordance with the present invention for forming elongated conductive elements in an interlevel dielectric layer;  
         [0032]      FIG. 4F  is a top plan view of a semiconductor device having a plurality of filled elongated conductive elements in an interlevel dielectric layer thereof;  
         [0033]      FIGS. 5A-5E  are side cross-sectional views schematically illustrating a method (in accordance with the present invention) for forming elongated conductive elements (e.g., traces) in a semiconductor substrate concurrently with the formation of a discrete conductive structure, e.g., a conductive via;  
         [0034]      FIG. 5F  is a top plan view of a semiconductor device having a plurality of filled elongated conductive elements in a semiconductor substrate thereof and a discrete conductive structure in association with and connected to one of the elongated conductive elements;  
         [0035]      FIGS. 6A-6E  are side cross-sectional views schematically illustrating a method (in accordance with the present invention) for forming elongated conductive elements in an interlevel dielectric layer concurrently with the formation of a discrete conductive structure;  
         [0036]      FIG. 6F  is a top plan view of a semiconductor device having a plurality of filled elongated conductive elements in an interlevel dielectric layer thereof and a discrete conductive structure in association with and connected to one of the elongated conductive elements;  
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a semiconductor device, e.g., a cellular telephone/Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) combination unit, which includes a plurality of stacked chips, such device having precise vertical electrical connections formed through the thickness of multiple chips in the stack; and  
         [0038]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a semiconductor device structure having an electrical connection formed directly through a sidewall thereof. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0039]     The present invention is directed to a method for creating depressions in a semiconductor substrate or film using laser machining, or ablation, processes. The depressions define traces or lines for signals lines, power and ground lines, and other elongated conductive elements utilized for defining electrical pathways in a semiconductor device. The method requires fewer processing steps than conventional mask and etch techniques and enables the creation of lines or traces substantially simultaneously with discrete conductive structures, such as vias or bond pads. Further, the process offers a lower cost alternative to conventional damascene and dual damascene processes and enables the formation of elongated conductive elements and discrete conductive structures of varying shapes to maximize use of the substrate or film. An exemplary application of the technology of the present invention is for creating electrical pathways to form a redistribution layer in wafer level packaging. The particular embodiments described herein are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Other and further embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its scope  
         [0040]      FIGS. 3A-3E ,  4 A- 4 E,  5 A- 5 E and  6 A- 6 E illustrate various views of techniques according to the present invention for forming depressions in a semiconductor substrate ( FIGS. 3A-3E  and  5 A- 5 E) or film ( FIGS. 4A-4E  and  6 A- 6 E), which depressions define traces or lines for signal lines, power and ground lines, and other elongated conductive elements in semiconductor device structures. It should be understood and appreciated that the methods and structures described herein do not form a complete process for manufacturing semiconductor device structures. The remainder of the process is known to those of ordinary skill in the art and, therefore, only the process steps and structures necessary to understand the method of the present invention are described herein.  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIGS. 3A-3E , steps in an exemplary method according to the present invention for fabricating a semiconductor device structure  100  having a plurality of elongated conductive elements in the form of traces  102  in the semiconductor substrate  104  thereof are illustrated. It will be understood and appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that while the process depicted illustrates formation of a plurality of traces  102 , the process sequence illustrated may also be utilized for the formation of other elongated conductive elements as well.  
         [0042]     With initial reference to  FIG. 3A , a cross-sectional view of an intermediate structure  106  in the fabrication of a semiconductor device structure  100  having a plurality of traces  102  formed in the semiconductor substrate  104  thereof is illustrated. As used herein, the term “semiconductor substrate” includes a semiconductor wafer or other substrate comprising a layer of semiconductor material, such as a silicon wafer, a silicon on insulator (“SOI”) substrate, a silicon on sapphire (“SOS”) substrate, an epitaxial layer of silicon on a base semiconductor foundation, and other semiconductor materials including, but not limited to, silicon-germanium, germanium, gallium arsenide and indium phosphide.  
         [0043]     It should be understood that the figures presented in conjunction with this description are not meant to be actual cross-sectional views of any particular portion of an actual semiconductor device, but are merely idealized representations which are employed to more clearly and fully depict the process of the invention than would otherwise be possible. Elements common between the figures maintain the same numeric designation.  
         [0044]     Referring now to  FIG. 3B , a desired pattern of one or more trace precursors in the form of trace depressions  108  may be formed in a surface  103  of the semiconductor substrate  104  using a focused laser beam  110 . In practice, one would place a semiconductor wafer, or other suitable semiconductor substrate  104 , on a platen of a suitable laser machining apparatus. The desired pattern of trace depressions  108  may be stored in a software program associated with the laser machining apparatus such that upon activation of the laser machining apparatus, the desired pattern may be ablated in the surface of the semiconductor substrate  104 . In doing so, the focused laser beam  110  rapidly traverses the surface  103  of the semiconductor substrate  104 , pausing briefly in those locations where a trace depression  108  is desired. Due to the rapidity of the process, the method of the present invention would typically be carried out at the wafer level.  
         [0045]     Currently available lasers in semiconductor device manufacturing plants have a minimum focused laser beam  110  width or footprint of approximately 15 microns, or smaller. Accordingly, the technology of the present invention enables the formation of trace depressions  108  having a width as small as approximately 15 microns, or smaller, and a shape suitable to define the desired trace pattern. A suitable laser machining apparatus for forming the trace depressions  108  is Model No. 2700 manufactured by Electro Scientific, Inc., of Portland, Oreg. Another suitable laser machining apparatus is manufactured by General Scanning of Somerville, Mass. and is designated as Model No. 670-W. Yet another suitable laser machining apparatus for forming the trace depressions  108  is manufactured by Synova S.A., Lausanne, Switzerland.  
         [0046]     A representative laser fluence for forming the trace depressions  108  through a semiconductor substrate  104  (e.g., a silicon wafer) having a thickness of about 28 mils (725 μm), is from about 2 to about 10 watts/opening at a pulse duration of 20-25 NS, and at a repetition rate of up to several thousand per second. The wavelength of the focused laser beam  110  may be a standard UV wavelength (e.g., 355 nm) or green wavelength (e.g., 1064 nm-532 nm). By way of example, the width of the trace depressions  108  can be from about 10 μm to about 2 mils or greater.  
         [0047]     It will be understood and appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the footprint of the focused laser beam  110  is limited only by the available optics. Thus, as optical technology advances, the footprint of the focused laser beam  110  will become reduced in dimension, such that trace depressions  108  having increasingly smaller widths may be formed utilizing the technology of the present invention.  
         [0048]     The laser machining process of the present invention results in the formation of trace depressions  108  which taper inward as the depth of the semiconductor substrate  104  increases. The trace depressions  108  may extend into the semiconductor substrate  104  a distance less than the thickness of the semiconductor substrate  104  as shown, or may extend through the full thickness of the semiconductor substrate  104  (embodiment not shown). Additionally, each trace depression  108  may extend the same distance into the semiconductor substrate  104  (embodiment not shown) or may extend into the semiconductor substrate  104  by varying distances as shown.  
         [0049]     Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 3C , the semiconductor substrate  104  may be etched to clean up the trace depressions  108  and smooth the cross-sectional shape thereof. Etching in this manner may remove slag created by the laser machining process as well as accent the desired shape(s) of the trace depressions  108 . Conventional wet etch or dry etch techniques may be employed. In contrast with wet etch techniques, techniques involving dry etch, including, without limitation, glow-discharge sputtering, ion milling, reactive ion etching (RIE), reactive ion beam etching (RIBE), plasma etching, point plasma etching, magnetic ion etching, magnetically enhanced reactive ion etching, plasma enhanced reactive ion etching, electron cyclotron resonance and high-density plasma etching, are capable of etching in a substantially anisotropic fashion. This means that the target area of a substrate is etched primarily in a substantially transverse or perpendicular direction relative to the plane of the surface of the semiconductor substrate  104 . Thus, such dry etch techniques are capable of defining structures with substantially vertical sidewalls. Due to a trend in semiconductor fabrication processes toward decreased dimensions of structures on semiconductor devices, dry etching is often desirable for defining structures upon semiconductor device substrates.  
         [0050]     An electrically conductive material  112  may subsequently be blanket coated over the etched semiconductor substrate  104  using a suitable deposition process such that the trace depressions  108  are filled therewith. This step is shown in  FIG. 3D . Suitable deposition processes include, by way of example and not limitation, plating, solder, atomized nano-particle deposition, CVD, PECVD, sputtering, and the like. The electrically conductive material  112  may comprise a metal including, without limitation, solder, aluminum, titanium, nickel, iridium, copper, gold, tungsten, silver, platinum, palladium, tantalum, molybdenum, or alloys of these metals. Alternatively, the electrically conductive material  112  may comprise a conductive polymer, such as a metal-filled silicone, or an isotropically conductive or conductor-filled epoxy. Suitable conductive polymers are sold, for instance, by Epoxy Technology of Billerica, Mass. One example is its conductive polymer designated E3114-5. Further suitable conductive polymers include, without limitation, those sold by A.I. Technology of Trenton, N.J.; Sheldahl of Northfield, Minn.; and 3M of St. Paul, Minn. A conductive polymer may be deposited in the trace depressions  108  as a viscous material and subsequently cured as required and may be applied by a dispensing nozzle or squeegee, by spin-coating, or otherwise as known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In a further embodiment, the electrically conductive material  112  may comprise conductive nano-particles.  
         [0051]     Although not shown in  FIGS. 3A-3E , if traces  102 , or other elongated conductive structures, are formed in a semiconductor substrate  104  comprising a conductive semiconductor material, such as silicon, an insulating layer comprising an insulating material (such as silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ), or parylene) may optionally be deposited or grown over the surface of the semiconductor substrate  104  prior to filling electrical pathways formed therein with the electrically conductive material  112 .  
         [0052]     Next, as shown in  FIG. 3E , the electrically conductive material  112  may be planarized using, e.g., a mechanical abrasion technique, such as chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), to laterally isolate the electrically conductive material  112  in the trace depressions  108 .  
         [0053]     The above-described method results in a semiconductor device structure  100  which includes a plurality of traces  102  in the semiconductor substrate  104  thereof (see,  FIG. 3F ). The method requires fewer processing steps than conventional mask and etch techniques and, in part because there are no photolithography steps involved, the method offers a lower cost alternative to conventional damascene processes. Further, the method of the present invention enables the formation of elongated conductive elements of varying shapes, sizes and depths to maximize the use of the substrate. Still further, the above-described method provides a simple process for altering a desired electrical pattern, prior to ablation, as a new pattern merely must be programmed into the laser machining apparatus. That is, no new masks are required making the process easier and more convenient than conventional mask and etch techniques.  
         [0054]     A similar process sequence to that shown in  FIGS. 3A-3E  may be utilized to ablate one or more conductive elements in a semiconductor film such as an interlevel dielectric layer  114 . Referring to  FIGS. 4A-4E , steps in an exemplary method according to the present invention for fabricating a semiconductor device structure  100 ′ having a plurality of elongated conductive elements in the form of traces  102 ′ in the interlevel dielectric layer  114  thereof are illustrated. It will be understood and appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that while in the illustrated process the traces  102 ′ are formed in an interlevel dielectric layer  114 , a similar process may also be utilized to form elongated conductive elements in other films, such as a passivation film (e.g., a silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ), or parylene film). The laser ablation method of the present invention enables electrical pathways to be formed in any such desirable material and all such variations are contemplated to be within the scope hereof.  
         [0055]     Referring to  FIG. 4A , a cross-sectional view of an intermediate structure  106 ′ in the fabrication of a semiconductor device structure  100 ′ having a plurality of traces  102 ′ formed in the interlevel dielectric layer  114  thereof is illustrated. The interlevel dielectric layer  114  resides on a semiconductor substrate  104 ′. By way of example and not limitation, the interlevel dielectric layer  114  may be deposited on the semiconductor substrate  104 ′ using, for example, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques (such as plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD)) or physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques (such as sputtering). The interlevel dielectric layer  114  may be formed of an inorganic or organic material having a low dielectric constant, such as an oxide compound (e.g., SiO 2 ), an aerogel, or a polymer.  
         [0056]     Referring now to  FIG. 4B , a desired pattern of one or more trace precursors in the form of trace depressions  108 ′ may be formed in a surface  113  of the interlevel dielectric layer  114  using a focused laser beam  110 ′. A representative laser fluence for forming the trace depressions  108 ′ through an interlevel dielectric layer  114  is from about 2 to about 10 watts/opening at a pulse duration of 20-25 NS, and at a repetition rate of up to several thousand per second. The wavelength of the focused laser beam  110 ′ may be a standard UV wavelength (e.g., 355 nm) or infrared or green wavelength (e.g., 1064 nm-532 nm). By way of example, the width of the trace depressions  108 ′ can be from about 10 μm to about 2 mils or greater.  
         [0057]     Similar to the embodiment in which trace depressions  108  are ablated into a semiconductor substrate  104 , the laser machining process of the present invention results in the formation of trace depressions  108 ′ which taper inward as the depth of the interlevel dielectric layer  114  increases. The trace depressions  108 ′ may extend through the full thickness of the interlevel dielectric layer  114  such that the semiconductor substrate  104 ′, including any active areas  116  thereon, may be contacted through the trace depressions  108 ′, as shown in broken lines in  FIG. 4B . Alternatively, and as shown in solid lines in  FIGS. 4B-4E , the trace depressions  108 ′ may extend into the interlevel dielectric layer  114  a distance less than the thickness of the interlevel dielectric layer  114 . Each trace depression  108 ′ may extend the same distance into the interlevel dielectric layer  114  or the trace depressions  108 ′ may extend into the interlevel dielectric layer  114  by varying distances as shown. As a further option, the trace depressions  108 ′ may be extended into and even through the semiconductor substrate  104 ′ (embodiment not shown).  
         [0058]     Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 4C , the interlevel dielectric layer  114  may be etched to clean up the trace depressions  108 ′ and smooth the cross-sectional shape thereof using conventional wet or dry etch techniques.  
         [0059]     An electrically conductive material  112 ′ may subsequently be blanket coated over the etched interlevel dielectric layer  114  using a suitable deposition process such that the trace depressions  108 ′ are filled therewith. This step is shown in  FIG. 4D .  
         [0060]     Next, as shown in  FIG. 4E , the electrically conductive material  112 ′ may be planarized using, e.g., a mechanical abrasion technique, such as chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), to laterally isolate the electrically conductive material  112 ′ in the trace depressions  108 ′.  
         [0061]     The above-described method results in a semiconductor device structure  100 ′ which includes a plurality of traces  102 ′ in the interlevel dielectric layer  114  thereof (see,  FIG. 4F ).  
         [0062]     As previously stated, trace depressions  108 ′ having a width as small as approximately 15 microns, or smaller, and a shape suitable to define the desired trace pattern, may be formed using currently available optics and the technology of the present invention. This offers a significant advantage over conventional mask and etch techniques, as utilizing such prior art processes, the smallest signal line traces that may be formed have a footprint or width of approximately 32 microns. Similarly, the smallest power and ground traces that may be formed utilizing conventional mask and etch processes have an approximately 80 micron footprint or width, the smallest lead connection dimensions are approximately 60 microns and the smallest bond dimensions are approximately 30 microns. As dimensions of semiconductor devices continue to decrease, the technology of the present invention will enable a concurrent decrease in the footprint of conductive structures on such devices.  
         [0063]     Additionally, there is a growing trend toward semiconductor devices, for instance, cellular telephone/Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) combination units, which include a plurality of stacked chips  200  (see  FIG. 7 ). Using current technology for forming vertical electrical connections between stacked chips, such devices may have a full thickness of approximately 150 microns. However, using the technology of the present invention, precise vertical electrical pathways  202  may be provided which will enable stacked units having a thickness of up to 750 microns or more. In forming such stacked chip devices, each chip  200  may be separately fabricated and a plurality of fabricated chips  200  may be assembled into a stack of the desired thickness. Subsequently, one or more depressions defining precise electrical pathways  202  may be ablated through one or more of the stacked chips  200 . The depressions may then be filled with the desired conductive material and planarized, as previously described.  
         [0064]     Due to the small footprint of the laser beam and the precision with which electrical pathways may be formed using the technology of the present invention, electrical connections  204  may be formed through the sidewalls  206  of a semiconductor device structure  208  as shown in  FIG. 8 . This is in contrast to conventional mask and etch techniques wherein electrical pathways may be formed only through the top surface  210  and bottom surface (not shown) of the semiconductor device structure  208 . The ability to form electrical connections through the sidewalls  206  of the semiconductor device structure  208  offers a significantly greater array of options when forming electrical pathways than is offered using conventional techniques. Such method may be useful, for instance, in forming a die connect for a vertical surface mount package.  
         [0065]     The method of the present invention may also be utilized for creating electrical pathways in a semiconductor device structure, which pathways include an elongated conductive element, such as a trace, in combination with one or more discrete conductive structures, e.g., vias or bond pads, in a single layer (e.g., a semiconductor substrate or interlevel dielectric layer) thereof  FIGS. 5A-5E  and  6 A- 6 E illustrate this exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that this method of the present invention may be used to ablate one or more elongated conductive elements and one or more discrete conductive structures in association with or connected to one another. Alternatively, the method may be used to substantially simultaneously form separate discrete conductive structures and elongated conductive elements, depending on the desired application. As used herein, the terms “substantially simultaneously” and “concurrently” are interchangeable and are used to indicate a rapid traversal of the laser beam over the surface of the desired substrate or film.  
         [0066]     Referring initially to  FIG. 5A , a cross-sectional view of an intermediate structure  118  in the fabrication of a semiconductor device structure  120  having a plurality of traces  122  formed in a surface  123  of the semiconductor substrate  124  thereof is shown. As shown in  FIG. 5B , a desired pattern of elongated conductive element precursors in the form of one or more trace depressions  126  and one or more discrete conductive structure precursors, e.g., vias  128 , may be formed in the surface  123  of the semiconductor substrate  124  using a focused laser beam  130 . The trace depressions  126  and vias  128  may be of any size, shape and depth suitable to define the desired conductive pathway. The vias  128  may extend through the full thickness of the semiconductor substrate  124  (embodiment not shown), or may extend into the semiconductor substrate  124  a depth less than the full thickness thereof as shown.  
         [0067]     Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 5C , the semiconductor substrate  124  may be etched to clean up the trace depressions  126  and vias  128  and to smooth the shape thereof. Conventional wet or dry etch techniques, as previously listed, may be utilized.  
         [0068]     An electrically conductive material  132  may subsequently be deposited using, e.g., CVD, over the etched semiconductor substrate  124  such that the trace depressions  126  and vias  128  are filled therewith. This step is shown in  FIG. 5D . Alternatively, a conductive polymer or conductive nano-particles may be deposited. Next, as shown in  FIG. 5E , the electrically conductive material  132  may be planarized by using, for instance, a mechanical abrasion technique, such as CMP, to laterally isolate the electrically conductive material  132  in the trace depressions  126  and vias  128 .  
         [0069]     The above-described method results in a semiconductor device structure  120  which includes a plurality of traces  122  and one or more vias  128  in a semiconductor substrate  124  thereof (see,  FIG. 5F ).  
         [0070]     A similar process sequence to that shown in  FIGS. 5A-5E  may be utilized to ablate one or more elongated conductive elements and one or more discrete conductive structures substantially simultaneously in a semiconductor film such as an interlevel dielectric layer  134 . Referring to  FIGS. 6A-6E , steps in an exemplary method according to the present invention for fabricating a semiconductor device structure  120 ′ having a trace  122 ′ in combination with a via  128 ′ in the interlevel dielectric layer  134  thereof are illustrated. It will be understood and appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that while in the illustrated process the trace  122 ′ and via  128 ′ are formed in an interlevel dielectric layer  134 , a similar process may also be utilized to form elongated conductive elements in other films, such as a passivation film (e.g., a silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ), or parylene film).  
         [0071]     Referring initially to  FIG. 6A , a cross-sectional view of an intermediate structure  118 ′ in the fabrication of a semiconductor device structure  120 ′ having a plurality of traces  122 ′ and one or more vias  128 ′ formed in a surface  135  of the interlevel dielectric layer  134  thereof is shown. The intermediate structure  118 ′ includes a semiconductor substrate  124 ′, e.g., a silicon wafer, having an interlevel dielectric layer  134  (e.g., a SiO 2  layer) thereon. As with the example illustrated in  FIGS. 4A-4E , the interlevel dielectric layer  134  may be deposited on the semiconductor substrate  124 ′ using, for example, CVD techniques.  
         [0072]     Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 6B , a desired pattern of elongated conductive element precursors in the form of one or more trace depressions  126 ′ and one or more discrete conductive structure precursors, e.g., vias  128 ′, may be formed in the surface  135  of the interlevel dielectric layer  134  using a focused laser beam  130 ′. The trace depressions  126 ′ and vias  128 ′ may be of any size, shape and depth suitable to define the desired conductive pathway. The vias  128 ′ may extend through the full thickness of the interlevel dielectric layer  134 , as shown in broken lines in  FIG. 6B , such that the semiconductor substrate  124 ′, including any active areas  136  thereon, may be contacted through the vias  128 ′. Alternatively, and as shown in solid lines in  FIGS. 6B-6E , the vias  128 ′ may extend into the interlevel dielectric layer  134  a depth less than the thickness of the interlevel dielectric layer  134 . As a further option, the vias  128 ′ may be extended into and even through the semiconductor substrate  124 ′ (embodiment not shown).  
         [0073]     Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 6C , the interlevel dielectric layer  134  may be etched to clean up the trace depressions  126 ′ and vias  128 ′ and to smooth the shape thereof. Conventional wet or dry etch techniques, as previously listed, may be utilized.  
         [0074]     An electrically conductive material  132 ′ may subsequently be deposited using, e.g., CVD, over the etched interlevel dielectric layer  134  such that the trace depressions  126 ′ and vias  128 ′ are filled therewith. This step is shown in  FIG. 6D . Alternatively, a conductive polymer may be deposited.  
         [0075]     Next, as shown in  FIG. 6E , the electrically conductive material  132 ′ may be planarized by using, for instance, a mechanical abrasion technique, such as CMP, to laterally isolate the electrically conductive material  132 ′ in the trace depressions  126 ′ and vias  128 ′. If desired, and if the vias  128 ′ are not formed entirely through the semiconductor substrate  124 ′, the semiconductor substrate  124 ′ may be back-ground or etched back to expose the electrically conductive material  132 ′ at the bottoms of the vias  128 ′.  
         [0076]     The above-described method results in a semiconductor device structure  120 ′ which includes a plurality of traces  122 ′ and one or more filled vias  128 ′ in a single interlevel dielectric layer  134  thereof (see,  FIG. 6F ).  
         [0077]     The above-described method requires fewer processing steps than conventional dual damascene processes and, in part because there are no photolithography steps, the method offers a lower cost alternative to conventional dual damascene processes. Further, the method of the present invention enables the formation of one or more elongated conductive elements or structures substantially simultaneously in a single layer, each such element or structure having a varying size and shape to maximize use of the substrate or film. Still further, the method provides a simple process for altering a desired electrical pattern, prior to ablation, as a new pattern merely must be programmed into the laser machining apparatus. That is, no new masks are required rendering the present invention easier and more convenient than conventional mask and etch techniques.  
         [0078]     The present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments that are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. It is to be understood that the invention defined by the appended claims is not to be limited by particular details set forth in the above description and that alternative embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.