Patent ID: 8168529

Claim:
A method of forming a semiconductor device, the method comprising: forming one or more semiconductor devices in an active circuit region of a first semiconductor die; forming one or more inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers over a front-side surface of the first semiconductor die; forming interconnect metal features in the active circuit region, the interconnect metal features being coupled to the one or more semiconductor devices and being formed in respective ones of the one or more IMD layers; forming a seal ring in the one or more IMD layers, the seal ring enclosing the interconnect metal features in the active circuit region; forming a recess in the one or more IMD layers and in the first semiconductor die, after the formation of the seal ring, the recess being separated from the active circuit region by the seal ring; and filling the recess with conductive material, thereby forming a through-silicon via (TSV).