Patent ID: 7491636

Claim:
A method for forming at least one interconnect on a substrate structure, the method comprising: providing a substrate structure including a surface bearing at least one conductive terminal; applying a material onto the substrate surface and over the at least one conductive terminal; forming a plurality of holes extending through the material to a surface of the at least one conductive terminal; filling the holes of the plurality with a first conductive material to form a plurality of columns, each column having a base end conductively joined to the at least one conductive terminal, and an opposed outer end and, when the plurality of columns are completed; applying another material comprising an aperture exposing a surface of each of the columns of the plurality; depositing a second conductive material over a surface of the material to join the outer ends of the plurality of columns and form a contact pad at least partially within the aperture; and removing the another material from around the contact pad and the material from the substrate surface and from around the plurality of columns.