Patent ID: 7535093

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a substrate having first and second sides, and having therethrough an opening which extends from said first side to said second side; a via which is disposed in said opening, which provides a hermetic seal within said opening with respect to opposite sides of said substrate, which has first and second ends respectively adjacent said first and second sides of said substrate, and which includes a conductive portion providing electrical conductivity between said first and second ends thereof; structure provided on said first side of said substrate and electrically coupled to said conductive portion at said first end of said via; wherein said via includes a sleevelike portion which is made of an electrically conductive material, and an electrically non-conductive core portion disposed within said sleevelike portion; and including within said opening a layer of an electrically insulating material which is provided on said substrate, said sleevelike portion of said via engaging said insulating material.