Patent ID: 7674702

Claim:
A method of forming solder bumps on an integrated circuit die having an active surface with a plurality of under bump metallization pads, the method comprising: applying a polymer stencil to the active surface of the die, wherein the stencil has openings that at least partially overlay associated metallization pads and divider strips positioned between at least some adjacent openings, wherein the divider strips are arranged to overlay portions of associated metallization pads such that at least two adjacent openings overlay portions of the each metallization pad having an associated divider strip; applying solder paste to the stencil openings; and reflowing the applied solder paste with the polymer stencil remaining in place, wherein reflowing the solder paste causes the formation of solder bumps on at least some of the metallization pads, whereby the formation of the solder bumps causes the divider strips overlaying metallization pads to raise up so that a single unified solder bump is formed on each metallization pad that had solder applied thereon.