Patent ID: 7078811

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a first substrate supporting a first insulating layer with a contact hole defined therein, and a first conductive material filling in the contact hole in the first insulating layer and protruding above a surface of the first insulating layer; a second substrate supporting a second insulating layer with a contact hole defined therein, and a second conductive material filling in the contact hole in the second insulating layer; wherein the first conductive material that fills in the contact hole in the first insulating layer and the second conductive material that fills in the contact hole in the second insulating layer are solid-state-bonded to each other so as to directly contact one another in a bonded state with no intermediate element therebetween, and wherein no additional material is provided between the first conductive material that fills in the contact hole in the first insulating layer and the second conductive material that fills in the contact hole in the second insulating layer; and wherein a gap or clearance is defined between the first and second insulating layers adjacent an area where the conductive materials are solid-state-bonded to one another, and wherein no material is provided in the gap or clearance between the first and second insulating layers.