Patent ID: 8546188

Claim:
A method of forming a semiconductor structure comprising: bonding a first substrate having first front side bonding pads on a front surface thereof with a second substrate having second front side bonding pads on a front surface thereof, wherein said first front side bonding pads are arranged in a primary pattern, and said second front side bonding pads are arranged in a minor image pattern that is a pattern of a minor image of said primary pattern; performing a first series of steps including: physically exposing surfaces of conductive through substrate vias (TSV's) embedded within said first substrate by planarizing a back side portion of said first substrate after said first substrate is bonded to said second substrate, forming a first back side dielectric layer on said first substrate after said planarizing, forming first back side bonding pads within said first back side dielectric layer and directly on said TSV's within said first substrate, and bonding a third substrate having third front side bonding pads on a top surface thereof with said first substrate, wherein said third front side bonding pads are bonded to said first back side bonding pads, said third back side bonding pads are arranged in said minor image pattern, and said third front side bonding pads are arranged in said primary pattern; and performing a second series of steps including: physically exposing surfaces of conductive through substrate vias (TSV's) embedded within said second substrate by planarizing a back side portion of said second substrate after said second substrate is bonded to at least one of said first substrate and said second substrate directly or indirectly through at least one intervening substrate, forming a second back side dielectric layer on said second substrate after said planarizing, forming second back side bonding pads within said second back side dielectric layer and directly on said TSV's within said second substrate, and bonding a fourth substrate having fourth front side bonding pads on a top surface thereof with said second substrate, wherein said fourth front side bonding pads are bonded to said second back side bonding pads, said fourth back side bonding pads are arranged in said primary pattern, and said fourth front side bonding pads are arranged in said minor image pattern.