Patent ID: 8030098

Claim:
A method for testing functionality of a microelectronic die, the method comprising: providing the microelectronic die, the microelectronic die having a bonding pad; forming a conductive bump on the bonding pad; forming an insulating layer on the microelectronic die such that a top surface of the insulating layer is substantially co-planar with a top surface of the conductive bump; subsequent to forming the insulating layer on the microelectronic die, probing the conductive bump to test the functionality of the microelectronic die; and planarizing each of the insulating layer and the conductive bump to remove material from each of the insulating layer and the conductive bump, the planarizing being performed (i) prior to probing the conductive bump and (ii) to provide the insulating layer having the top surface such that the top surface of the insulating layer is substantially co-planar with the top surface of the conductive bump.