Patent ID: 7470563

Claim:
A method for processing microelectronic substrates, comprising: providing a first microelectronic substrate having a first surface, a second surface facing opposite from the first surface, and a plurality of first connection sites positioned at least proximate to the first surface, with individual first connection sites carrying a first flowable, electrically conductive coupler, and with individual first conductive couplers having a first outer surface spaced apart from the first surface of the first microelectronic substrate by a first distance, the first outer surfaces defining a first plane; applying a first generally non-conductive material to the first conductive couplers and the first surface of the first microelectronic substrate; selecting a first recess distance extending depthwise no greater than to expose the first surface of the first microelectronic substrate; removing at least some of the first generally non-conductive material from between the first conductive couplers to recess the first generally non-conductive material from the first plane by the first recess distance; providing a second microelectronic substrate having a first surface, a second surface facing opposite from the first surface, and a plurality of second connection sites positioned at least proximate to the first surface of the second microelectronic substrate, each second connection site having a second flowable, electrically conductive coupler, each second conductive coupler having a second outer surface spaced apart from the first surface of the second microelectronic substrate by a second distance different than the first distance, the second outer surfaces defining a second plane; applying a second generally non-conductive material to the second conductive couplers and the first surface of the second microelectronic substrate; selecting a second recess distance extending depthwise no greater than to expose the first surface of the second microelectronic substrate, the second recess distance being at least approximately the same as the first recess distance; and removing at least some of the second generally non-conductive material from between the second conductive couplers to recess the second generally non-conductive material from the second plane by the second recess distance.