Patent ID: 6913946

Claim:
A method of making a semiconductor device comprising: providing a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of discrete devices formed therein, and a plurality of metal layers and support layers, the support layers comprising an uppermost support layer and other support layers, each of the upper most support layer and the other support layers comprising at least a first type of material, and wherein each metal layer has an associated support layer having at least a portion underlying the metal layer, and wherein the plurality of metal layers includes an uppermost metal layer including a sealing pad having an opening therethrough, and a passivation layer having at least one opening therein exposing a portion of the sealing pad including the opening therethrough, and the uppermost support layer having a portion exposed through the opening in the sealing pad; exposing the uppermost support layer to an etching material through the opening in the sealing pad and etching away the first type of material; sealing the opening in the sealing pad; and wherein the sealing of the sealing pad comprises depositing an electrically conductive material on the sealing pad without depositing electrically conductive material into the opening in the sealing pad and after etching the support layers away, reflowing the electrically conductive material to seal the sealing pad.