Patent ID: 7223684

Claim:
A method of fabricating a dual damascene structure, comprising: forming a first interconnect level comprising a first dielectric layer and including a multiplicity of first damascene or dual damascene conductive wires, each first damascene or dual damascene conductive wire extending from a top surface of said first dielectric layer a distance toward a bottom surface of said first dielectric layer, said distance less than a thickness of said first dielectric layer; forming a second interconnect level directly above and in contact with said first dielectric layer, said second interconnect level comprising a second dielectric layer and including a multiplicity of second dual damascene conductive wires, each second dual damascene conductive wire extending from a top surface of said second dielectric layer a distance toward a bottom surface of said second dielectric layer, said distance less than a thickness of said second dielectric layer; and forming a dual damascene conductive via bar within said second interconnect level and integral with and extending from a bottom surface of one of said multiplicity of said second dual damascene conductive wires and a top surface of one of said multiplicity of said first dual damascene conductive wires, said dual damascene conductive via bar having a length extending in a lengthwise direction greater than a width extending in a widthwise direction, said lengthwise direction and widthwise direction perpendicular to each other and parallel to said plane defined by said top surface of said second dielectric layer.