Patent ID: 8581366

Claim:
A method for making an integrated circuit system with one or more copper interconnects, the one or more copper interconnects being conductively connected with a substrate, the method comprising: depositing and patterning a first dielectric layer to form a first via; filling the first via through the first dielectric layer with a copper material; depositing and patterning a second dielectric layer in contact with the first dielectric layer to form a second via; forming a diffusion barrier layer, the diffusion barrier layer at least partially filling the second via through the second dielectric layer, at least a first part of the diffusion barrier layer in direct contact with the copper material, at least a second part of the diffusion barrier layer in direct contact with the second dielectric layer; depositing and patterning a photoresist layer on the diffusion barrier layer; at least partially filling the second via with a metal material, the metal material being conductively connected to the copper material through the diffusion barrier layer; and conductively connecting the metal material with the substrate, wherein the metal material comprises gold, silver, nickel, or copper.