Patent ID: 8541882

Claim:
An IC device comprising: a stack of contact levels, each contact level comprising a conductive layer and an insulation layer; first and second interlevel conductors within respective first and second openings in the stack of contact levels, the first opening passing through n contact levels of the stack of contact levels, the second opening passing through n+1 contact levels of the stack of contact levels, n being an integer equal to at least 1; the first interlevel conductor being electrically insulated from the conductive layers of the n contact levels, the second interlevel conductor being electrically insulated from the conductive layers of the n+1 contact levels; the first interlevel conductor terminating at and in electrical contact with conductive layer n+1, the second interlevel conductor terminating at and in electrical contact with conductive layer n+2; and portions of conductive layers at the first and second openings being separated from the interlevel conductors by respective recesses having insulating material therein.