Patent ID: 7615866

Claim:
A semiconductor device, comprising: an active circuitry region; a contact region exclusive of the active circuitry region; a last interconnect layer comprising aluminum over the active circuitry and the contact region; a passivation layer over the last interconnect layer having a first opening bounded by a sidewall of the passivation layer and over the contact region; a polyimide layer over the passivation layer having a second opening that is within the first opening so that the polyimide layer separates the second opening from the sidewall of the passivation layer; a barrier metal layer comprising titanium tungsten over the polyimide layer and contacting the last interconnect layer in the second opening; a bond pad metal comprising gold over the barrier metal having a contact portion outside the contact region and over the active circuitry region; and a wire bond on the contact portion; wherein: the barrier metal layer, the bond pad metal, and the last interconnect layer form an electrical contact; and the polyimide layer improves durability of the contact by separating the second opening from the sidewall of the passivation layer.