Patent ID: 7803693

Claim:
A planarizing method performed on a non-planar substrate, wherein the non-planar substrate has a plurality of pre-formed electrical contacts disposed on a side having a non-planar surface, and wherein the non-planar surface has a deviation from planarity and comprises at least one of a bowed portion or a dished portion, the method comprising: applying a removable material to the side having the non-planar surface, wherein the removable material has a thickness that is greater than the deviation from planarity; forming a plurality of openings in the removable material, wherein the plurality of openings extend through the removable material down to the pre-formed electrical contacts; filling the plurality of openings with an electrically-conductive material; partially removing both the removable material and the electrically-conductive material, thereby forming an approximately planar surface; and removing the removable material such that the electrically-conductive material is exposed and a plurality of posts are formed having distal ends that are approximately coplanar.