Patent ID: 8513109

Claim:
A method of forming a contact platform for a device substrate, the method comprising: providing a semiconductor device structure having an electrically-conductive contact element, a passivation layer atop the electrically-conductive contact element, and a recess extending through the passivation layer and terminating at the electrically-conductive contact element; at least partially filling the recess with a resilient material; selectively removing a portion of the resilient material to form a resilient pad, the resilient pad overlying the electrically-conductive contact element and spaced apart from the passivation layer; forming an electrically-conductive platform such that the electrically-conductive platform at least partially surrounds the resilient pad; and after forming the electrically-conductive platform, removing excess resilient material from the semiconductor device structure, the excess resilient material overlying the passivation layer, wherein the step of removing excess material comprises polishing the semiconductor device structure using the passivation layer as a stop layer.