Patent ID: 6887790

Claim:
A method of providing for a stable structure by creating dummy plugs over a semiconductor substrate, comprising the steps of: providing a semiconductor substrate, said substrate having been provided with multiple layers of metal interconnect traces separated by a layer of insulating material; depositing a layer of etch stop material over said substrate; depositing a layer of insulating material over said layer of etch stop material; etching holes for a pattern of dummy plugs through said layer of insulating material and through said layer of etch stop material, extending the dummy plugs into the surface of the underlying substrate, said pattern of dummy plugs being adjusted for maximum stress reduction in said layer of insulating material and said layer of etch stop material, said pattern of dummy plugs further being adjusted to eliminate effects of uneven plug fill during creation of the dummy plugs; and filling said holes with a metal, thereby providing for creating a stable and strengthened stack of overlying interconnect traces separated by a layer of insulating material while further allowing for a reduction in dummy plug density.